Newcastle United's Alan Pardew expects battle to permanently sign Loic Remy

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew believes that his attempts to permanently sign striker Loic Remy will result in a drawn-out saga.

The Frenchman moved to St James' Park from Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan deal in the summer, but Pardew has suggested that the switch could become permanent.

"I think Loic is going to be an ongoing thing," the Northern Echo quotes Pardew as saying.

"We are probably going to be talking about that for a long, long time. I don't want to start it now."

The North-East outfit are said to have paid a £2m loan fee to sign Remy in the summer.