Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has dismissed claims that he will try to sign Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney this summer. A report on the Sports Direct news website claimed preliminary talks had already taken place with the 27-year-old, but this was quickly retracted.

Pardew said: "When Demba [Ba] went in January and we didn't secure [Loic] Remy, it was obvious that we were going to need to bring in a striker or two in this summer window, and hopefully we can.

"But Rooney won't be one of them, 100 per cent, I can assure you."