NEWCASTLE (DF) -- Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has begun his search for a new striker following the £35 million January departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool by setting his sights on a sensational swoop for Newcastle legend, retired centre forward and former United manager Alan Shearer.
Sources inside St. James' Park have confirmed Pardew's intent to contact Shearer about coming out of retirement, but, as of yet, refuse to speculate if the former England international's return is a possibility. The sources believe disgraced Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will allow Pardew to spend most of Carroll's £35 million fee in order to tempt the former captain back to the club.
"Alan is completely serious about trying to bring Alan back to Newcastle," revealed one of the club sources. "He feels the club have been lacking someone of his ilk since he retired, and who better to replace the man than the man himself?"
Tyneside media first began reporting the story on Friday evening when Pardew announced his desire for a new striker to bring goals back to the Newcastle front line. United supporters, desperate for a new hero since the departure of Kevin Keegan in 2008 and Shearer in 2009, have been buoyed by the news.
"They thought they had found one in Carroll," said regional journalist Andy McLean. "A local lad, powerful striker scoring loads of goals, but [Mike] Ashley sold him in January to help balance the books. They were gutted again. First Kevin, then Alan, and now Andy Carroll? We've had a tumultuous few years."
"I think bringing Alan back to the club would be an absolute masterstroke for Pardew and Ashley," continued McLean. "It would give instant credibility to the regime-- something which they both have been lacking since day one. It might take most of that £35 million to get Alan to come back, but I think he'd be open to it."
"I'm sure he's still fit as a fiddle. If Teddy Sheringham can play until he's 55, why can't the great Alan Shearer make a comeback at 40 and save Newcastle United?"
