Transfer news: Newcastle begin search for new striker

Alan Pardew has admitted that reinforcements up front are his priority

Alan Pardew's Newcastle suffered a 2-1 defeat by Cardiff in the FA Cup third round (GETTY IMAGES)

Newcastle's search for January reinforcements is under way as manager Alan Pardew attempts to bounce back from yet another FA Cup disappointment.

Pardew revealed in the run-up to Saturday's 2-1 third round home defeat by Cardiff that a striker was his priority during the current transfer window with Loic Remy only on loan from QPR and Shola Ameobi out of contract at the end of the season.

The manager, director of football Joe Kinnear and chief scout Graham Carr have drawn up a list of potential targets as the Magpies look to build upon an encouraging first half of the Barclays Premier League campaign.

Reports that they have rekindled their interest in Borussia Monchengladbach striker Luuk de Jong, a man they tried to sign before he made a £12.6million switch from FC Twente to the Bundesliga club during the summer of 2012, began to circulate last night.

However, Press Association Sport understands that, while that interest is genuine, the 23-year-old Dutchman is one of a series of options currently under consideration, and that any deal is far from done.

Newcastle have also been linked with a temporary move to bring former frontman Demba Ba back from Chelsea, although a previous attempt to do so fell down on financial grounds.

In addition, the club has drawn up contingency plans should they receive an offer they cannot refuse for one of their star players, with France midfielder Yohan Cabaye at the top of that list.

But Pardew has spoken of his confidence in recent weeks that the former Lille man will remain on board ahead of a summer trip to the World Cup finals in Brazil.

Long-time admirers Arsenal and Paris St Germain have already suggested they will not be moving for him this time around, although the 52-year-old Pardew will not be able to relax until the deadline passes.

In the meantime, he will spend the week attempting to repair the damage of a missed opportunity in the FA Cup after watching his side surrender a lead to bow out of the competition at the first hurdle for the third time in four attempts during his reign.

They will resume their league campaign on Sunday when title contenders Manchester City head for St James' Park, and Pardew and his players will be keen to avenge the 4-0 defeat they suffered at the Etihad Stadium on the opening weekend of the season.

However, that may be easier said than done with City having ended Newcastle's Capital One Cup hopes with a 2-0 fourth round victory on Tyneside in October.

The manager said: "That seems a long way away, Manchester City, it's a whole week and we have got to get over the disappointment of this first."

PA