Newcastle United are prepared to spend big in this month's market after a transfer summit last week.

The Sunday Sun says Alan Pardew was in attendance at the summit along with the club's managing director Derek Llambias, back in the North East after a short Christmas break. And it went well, with all of the club's key men now singing from the same hymn sheet when it comes to recruitment.

Although money is tight - a budget of around £8million has been mooted - the news from up high is that there IS additional cash there for an exceptional player if he becomes available at the right price.

And some of the stars put to Newcastle's hierarchy by busy agents and representatives from cash-strapped clubs have changed their thinking in this window.