Newcastle manager Alan Pardew insists approach for Watford defender Adrian Mariappa was 'honest'

Alan Pardew has rejected suggestions that Newcastle United’s approach for Adrian Mariappa was an attempt to unsettle the Watford player, insisting that he aims to be "honest" in his transfer dealings.

Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game

Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25

Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200

Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20!

Watford boss Sean Dyche had claimed that the bid for Mariappa was “not even worth considering” and saw it as an attempt to disrupt the defender, but the Magpies manager argued that his approach was genuine.

"We've tried to be as honest [as possible]," Pardew explained to BBC Newcastle.

"Certainly my philosophy in terms of the media and fans is to get the message out there of what’s going on. I don't like there to be surprises.

"Unfortunately in the transfer market it’s very difficult because people then come in at the 11th hour. We've had big success in the transfer market just recently and other teams have noticed, it isn't lost on them.

“So when we come in for a player suddenly another club gets interested and the prices start going up ... Suddenly we get into a bidding war. That's something we try to avoid."

The Magpies manager also confirmed his intentions to keep hold of his star players in the transfer window as he believes that his side are capable of challenging the bigger teams if they stay together.

"[The transfer window is] seven days too long as far as I'm concerned! We've got a great side and some outstanding players," he added.

"They've been marvellous this season, they really have, and I just hope we can keep it all together because the way the league is structured at moment - with one or two of the bigger clubs having a few problems - it's an opportunity for us.

"We're a young side, we haven't been together long and if we can maintain our form and keep getting the wins we need we might surprise ourselves."

Although he expressed his belief in his side, Pardew could not hide his disappointment at Saturday's 5-2 defeat at the hands of Fulham.

"We just didn't perform [in the] second half because we lost concentration," the former Southampton boss conceded.

"Sometimes it feels too comfortable, it was too easy for us if I'm honest,

"It's not something that worries me going forward. It was a game that got away from us. Actually it was a bit of a bonus - we had an away game and we've not lost any ground apart from a point to Chelsea.

"It hasn't worked out too badly and if we learn from the horrible lesson of the second half we can turn it into a positive."