Newcastle United chief scout Graham Carr says 'transfers by committee' is working on Tyneside.

Carr insists no stone is left unturned these days when it comes to incoming targets.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "When you sit round a table with Derek (Llambias) and Mike (Ashley) and they talk about targets you have to have some bottle.

"When you are saying to spend eight or nine million of somebody's else's money and you start spluttering you have to be sure.

"People do say: 'Oh he's a good player or he can play', but you have to be sure when you pay all that money.

"Derek has a saying and always asks: 'Is he a nap?' And I have to give them the answer. But they're great people and nobody will ever change my opinion.

"I've always said that I couldn't fault Mike or Alan Pardew."