Newcastle are confident of wrapping up the signing of France striker Loic Remyafter agreeing an £8m fee with his club Marseille. The 26-year-old French international travelled to Tyneside on Sunday for talks with Newcastle officials and a medical. Newcastle are now hopeful of completing the deal by the middle of the week.
Manager Alan Pardew says Remy is the man to replace the departed Demba Ba but agreeing a fee has been complicated by interest from a number of other clubs. QPR manager Harry Redknapp attempted to persuade Marseille to sell Remy to him, but the player rejected the move.
Remy has made 14 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille this season but only started two games. He was left out of Marseille's squad for their trip to Sochaux on Sunday. Marseille team-mate Joey Barton, a former Newcastle player, suggested Remy might join the Magpies as he tweeted: "Good luck to Loic in Newcastle. Don't worry, I've told him what to expect. Great guy. Perfect club for him."
Alan Pardew indicated he was in the hunt for a new frontman following his side's 0-0 draw at Norwich on Saturday. "It is pretty obvious that we need another striker," he said. Remy has 17 appearance for the France national team and he has scored 4 goals for Les Bleus.
Remy, if signed, could make his debut for Newcastle on January 19, when the Magpies face Reading at home. Here are the odds for that game from Bet365:
Newcastle win - 4/5
Draw - 13/5
Reading win - 10/3
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