ALAN PARDEW wants new players in January but he will not be rushing into lining up any deals at this stage because Newcastle want a post-Christmas bargain.

The Magpies, ideally, would still like to add a new striker and a defender at least for the second half of the season once the transfer window opens on January 1.

Newcastle’s scouting team, fronted by Graham Carr, are constantly assessing the merits of potential targets at home and abroad and managing director Lee Charnley has already made calls on that front.

But Pardew, whose side are on a seven-match winning run which has turned attentions to Europe rather than relegation ahead of today's trip to West Ham, said: “I have not had any meetings about January, we are just watching the market. I think it would be unfair on the players.

“The media are starting to pick up on the transfer window coming up. But we have a lot of games and managers will focus on them and let staff sort through transfers, and get down to realistic numbers in the market. We are looking at a lot of players at the moment. Lots of areas we feel might strengthen us.”

And he was giving no hints away whether he will look to sell players. He said: “I don’t want to go on any negative. There are not many days when I can sit here with six wins behind me, so no negatives!

“I will leave that and say the team are confident. I can see that through to the academy, who are top of the league. There is real confidence on the training ground.”