ALAN PARDEW admits he cannot be confident about retaining Yohan Cabaye this month, with Paris St Germain's financial clout leaving Newcastle United in a vulnerable position ahead of Friday's transfer deadline.

Newcastle turned down PSG's £14m offer for Cabaye on Sunday, but discussions remain ongoing and an improved bid is anticipated later this week.

As things stand, Cabaye is due to face Norwich City at Carrow Road tomorrow despite the growing uncertainty over his future.

But after Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool on January transfer deadline day in 2011, Pardew accepts he cannot issue any guarantees about what will happen to Cabaye before the end of the week.

Pardew said: “We know that we've got a club interested in Cabaye who are very wealthy and powerful. We're conscious of that, but will be doing our best to protect Newcastle United.

“In many ways, the Andy Carroll one had less mileage than this one. That came really out of the blue, we never quite expected it. We never expected to see the back of him. This has got as much mileage, if not more ,because of the size of the club and the finance that's behind it.

“Am I confident (of retaining Cabaye)? No. I don't think any team not in a Champions League position, or fighting for a Champions League position, would be different.”

While Carroll was sold without the chance to replace him, Pardew admits Newcastle cannot afford to lose Cabaye without signing another midfielder this month.

“We would need to bring someone in, for sure,” he said. “But we're going to need some time to do that. We've informed the club that are interested, and the agents that we're very conscious of that.”

Newcastle are also working on other potential incomings, and Pardew insists an arrival not related to the Cabaye situation is close.

“We're hoping to sign a player outside the Cabaye situation for the second half of the season, and are getting closer to that, on the positive side,” he said.