Newcastle United must hope they can put the finishing touches to a loan deal to bring Queens Parks Rangers’ Loïc Rémy to Tyneside after a move for Darren Bent collapsed on Wednesday night.

Bent and his agent are understood to have been far from impressed following a meeting with Newcastle’s Director of Football Joe Kinnear, who suggested he would only offer Aston Villa £2m for the England international.

Newcastle were also well adrift of the player’s wage demands and Bent will now almost certainly join Fulham as they have already offered double what Newcastle were prepared to pay and are willing to offer him close to the £65,000-a-week he earns at Villa.

Crystal Palace are also interested, but Fulham appear to be the clear favourites to land the 29-year-old with manager Martin Jol preparing to make a third bid which will bring them close to Villa’s £6m valuation.