Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew says he'll leave their pursuit of Liverpool striker Andy Carroll to owner Mike Ashley. Pardew, currently in Germany with his squad at their pre-season training camp, admits he is keeping on the margins of the sensational move.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "That whole process is a little bit more involved with the chairman and the board at Liverpool.

"We have got a great team here, a great squad, and if Andy Carroll comes, it will only add to us.

"It's simple, really. Sometimes transfers are done at corporate level. I'm slightly detached from that. It will be what it will be.

"It's been said that he's available and if we are involved, then we will be involved because of the figures, not anything else, because we know he's good enough."