Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew was in Holland on Sunday on a scouting mission.

The Evening Chronicle says reports in the Netherlands today indicated that Pardew attended FC Twente's 2-1 home defeat against champions-elect Ajax at De Grolsch Veste.

Steve McClaren's side featured Toon target Douglas but the Brazilian-born defender could not stop Ajax taking victory as Jan Vertonghen skippered the Amsterdammers to victory and put them on the brink of the Dutch title.