Newcastle manager Alan Pardew concedes the club have made ‘no real progress’ in trying to secure their preferred transfer targets.
The 51-year-old is looking to build on last season’s impressive fifth-place finish in the Premier League, and is hoping that the draw of Europa League football will attract the talent needed to bolster his squad.
FC Twente centre-back Douglas and France international Mathieu Debuchy have been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League club, but Pardew has revealed that talks have stalled.
“There’s no real progress,” Pardew told The Chronicle.
“The two clubs need to make an agreement on the finance side about the players we’re talking about.
“Unfortunately, there’s no agreement at the moment.”
Despite a loan offer for former Newcastle man Andy Caroll being rebuffed by Liverpool, Pardew will be boosted by the return of star striker Papiss Cisse, who played a part in Saturday’s pre-season friendly draw with Fenerbahce in Austria.
Cisse made 14 appearances for the club last season, scoring 13 goals, and has received praise from Pardew ahead of the upcoming season.
“I always intended to give Papiss a little bit, but I’m winding back on him more than building up with him because, as he showed, he’s ready to go,” he said.
“He had a great couple of efforts. A couple of turns were exceptional.”
