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Alan Pardew admitted that had Newcastle pulled off a “marquee signing” during the window the transaction would have taken the Magpies into their overdraft facility.

United fans are still far from happy they didn’t see a permanent signing made during the summer as bids for Bafetimbi Gomis and a loan move for Demba Ba fell through.

United were also linked with Florian Thauvin, who eventually signed for Marseille after a mooted £10m bid from the Magpies. And reacting to criticism from fans – who have questioned why the £60m TV money hasn’t been dipped into – Pardew told the Chronicle: “They all expected a marquee signing, although I have to say a marquee signing would have taken us into our overdraft facility.

“That was something we really didn’t want to do, although there were two or three bids that went in that would have definitely put us in that.

“There was the will there, but I don’t wantto say any more thanthat.

“I don’t want to affect our fans any more than they’ve been affected.

“They’re disappointed, but we still carry a team that can have a successful season.”

Gomis’ agent revealed yesterday that he could make a cut-price move for less than £2.5m in January from Lyon.

And while Pardew also revealed a bid for an English player also fell through towards the end of the window, when asked about future transfer plans, he said: “I don’t want to give our fans any kind of discussion about January.

“We’ll get plenty of time to talk about that leading up to it.”

Director of football Joe Kinnear – who has yet to offer any explanation for a disastrous transfer window – has stayed tight-lipped about recruitment despite making boastful claims earlier this summer.

Pardew says he was disappointed not to sign a new striker and said: “Our fans wanted a marquee signing.

“I stated that I wanted another offensive player.

“Another striker would have helped us.

“I’m really happy with my strikers, but I’m a bit vulnerable to injury.

“But everybody has trained, and we’ve got a great team to turn up at Villa.

“We’ve got a really good side, and a good bench, a bench which can affect the game.

“I don’t want to talk about that. But for the mood of everybody, it’s been tough.”