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Newcastle are confident of completing the signing of France striker Loic Remy in the next 48 hours after agreeing an £8m fee with his club Marseille.

The 26-year-old travelled to Tyneside on Sunday for talks and a medical.

Newcastle are hopeful of completing the deal by the middle of the week.

Magpies manager Alan Pardew quickly identified Remy as the man to replace the departed Demba Ba but agreeing a fee has been complicated by interest from a number of other clubs.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp attempted to persuade Marseille to sell Remy to him, only for the player to reject the move.

Newcastle, however, are now confident they have got their man.

Remy has made 14 Ligue 1 appearances for Marseille this season but only started two games.

He was left out of Marseille's squad for their trip to Sochaux on Sunday.

Earlier Marseille team-mate Joey Barton, a former Newcastle player, suggested Remy might be off to his former club when he tweeted: "Good luck to Loic in Newcastle.

"Don't worry, I've told him what to expect. Great guy. Perfect club for him."

Pardew indicated he was in the hunt for a new frontman following his side's 0-0 draw at Norwich on Saturday.

"It is pretty obvious that we need another striker," he said.