Alan Pardew has set up a list of 7 possible defensive targets he could sign in the January transfer window, with one of them believed to be FC Twente defender Douglas.
Newcastle FC supposedly launched a £3.5 million bid for the Brazilian in the summer, which was swiftly rebuffed as a derisory bid, as reported by the Evening Chronicle.
The Magpies though are aware of his contractual situation and the ace could be available for a similar fee to their summer bid this time round.
The Premier League boss is hopeful that he can use his excellent working relationship with owner Mike Ashley to his advantage in order to encourage him to loosen the purse strings.
It has been mentioned that defensive quality is a weak link in the Newcastle side, and Pardew is thought to want to act on resolving this frailty.
He knows though that is not a simple case of the owner spending his money rashly, just for the sake of it, like previous owner Freddy Shepherd was accused of at times.
Pardew admitted that he has to convince the club hierarchy to let him spend and that, “there have been times when Derek Llambias has said, ‘It’s out of the budget or it doesn’t work.’
“But Mike has said ‘Do it.’ Don’t think that might not happen again. That’s my job to try to tease him in on signings.”
