NEWCASTLE UNITED’S hopes of landing Turkish striker Mevlut Erdinc have taken a hit by Paris St Germain’s decision to use him as bait in their pursuit of Eden Hazard.

The Magpies are still seeking attacking reinforcements this summer despite the successful pursuit of Demba Ba, the West Ham forward, earlier this month.

Erdinc, thought to prefer a move to Spain rather than the Premier League, has been one of the leading attacking targets on the list compiled by manager Alan Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr.

Newcastle have already offered somewhere in the region of £6m for Erdinc, but ambitious PSG are trying to offload him as part of a deal that would see Hazard move from French champions Lille.

PSG have been taken over by the Qatar Investment Authority which has signalled its intentions by discussing a £30m part exchange bid for Hazard, which would see Erdinc head in the opposite direction.

The QIA have recently put up the £11m funds to buy Lorient’s promising striker Kevin Gameiro, who was also wanted by Newcastle.

And now PSG’s determination to take Hazard to the Parc des Princes looks like standing in the way of Erdinc heading to Tyneside.

Pardew is looking to sell Leon Best this summer, which would leave Newcastle with just Ba, Shola Ameobi, Peter Lovenkrands and Nile Ranger, who is also available at the right price, as their forward options.

Pardew - who was linked with Velez Sarsfield striker Juan Manuel Martinez yesterday - did not renew the short-term contract that Shefki Kuqi signed following the departure of Andy Carroll in January.

Kuqi is still looking for a new club and yesterday it emerged that Carlisle United are still looking to attract him to Brunton Park.

The 34-year-old, who was released by Newcastle at the end of last season, has yet to decide where his future lies.

Carlisle boss Greg Abbott said: “We have asked to be kept in the loop and his people are doing that with us. At the moment Shefki is taking his time over everything. The key is that players will soon be reporting back and he will want to play football.

“So this week you would imagine he will have to make some decisions. With him it could be either to hang on for a Championship club and go as a bit-part player, or come to League One and play a bit more. It’s out of our hands at the moment but it’s certainly not a definite ‘no’ with him as it stands.”