Alan Pardew will begin Newcastle United’s summer rebuilding programme with a bid for Jonjo Shelvey, the Swansea City midfielder, with the manager insisting that a top-ten finish this season is not a “life or death” factor in whether he retains his position at St James’ Park.

Newcastle, who are away to Arsenal tonight, have lost their past five league matches and while they remain ninth in the table, their form has been poor since the sale of Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint-Germain in January. That spell has led to increased scrutiny on Pardew, who will have an end-of-season debriefing with Mike Ashley, the owner, to examine all areas of performance.

Having been given a target of finishing in the upper half of the table —