Pardew pays personal visit to PSV's Pieters.

It seems as though Alan Pardew has not sat on his arse after the Derby Day victory away at Sunderland on Saturday.

After guiding his troops to a rather satisfying Tyne-Wear derby win in the backyard of our fiercest rivals you could perhaps excuse Pardew for having a day off to reflect on the day before and look back on a job well done.

Not so it seems as news has emerged that our boss hopped on a plane to Holland today to cast a personal eye over NUFC target Erik Pieters. This of course comes after the news that earlier in the week a deal had looked unlikely as PSV Eindhoven admitted that there had been no fresh contact between the two clubs, but with Alan Pardew in attendance as PSV beat ADO Den Haag 3-0 it could perhaps signal that a move is back on the cards.

Especially interesting is the fact that agent of the player was also present as Pieters put in another good performance in his secondary roll as a centre-back instead of his usual left-back berth. Surely there has to be something in this now? Or am I reading too much into it?

Well after the match the player himself admitted that he is open to a move although he was also quick to state that no firm interest has materialised thus far.

"I'm open to this step, it seems a great challenge," said Pieters. "But if it fails, I am not disappointed. My agent must report to me when it is really concrete. I have not heard yet, so I wait."

Personally I have a feeling that we'll see Pieters turn up at Newcastle. All the signs point towards his arrival although before I get carried away I must remember that this is Newcastle and no transfer speculation is ever guaranteed.

It's all a bit of a coincidence though is it not? I mean it's all kind of falling into place in terms of a move for the 23-year-old Holland international so perhaps it's only a matter of time before we see Tim Krul's mate roll up on Tyneside?

It would seem that, at the moment anyway, a deal is most definitely in the offing with Erik Pieters.