REPORTED CABAYE SIGNING WOULD BE A TIMELY STEAL

If reports coming out of France today are true - and they appear credible - then Newcastle United is set to make a fine early capture at a bargain price in the summer transfer market.

According to various French sources including a daily newspaper site in Lille, Lille central midfielder Yohan Cabaye is poised to sign with Newcastle after United met the €5 million release clause in his contract. There's no confirmation yet, but the reports are from professional media and have the kind of detail not normally associated with mere speculation, such as the grooming of Cabaye's replacement at Lille. Also Cabaye fits all the hints dropped earlier this week by Alan Pardew about the imminent signing of a mystery central midfielder, and there aren't many plausible transfers who do.

We've watched Lille several times this season, and while Gervinho and Moussa Sow are justifiably getting most of the transfer attention at the club so far, Cabaye has been the main eye-catcher in the heart of Lille's midfield behind the star strikers. The 25-year-old is a classy box-to-box player with an eye for goal (31 in seven seasons with Lille), and he's just cracking into the France national team. For €5 million, that sort of player is a steal.

For a Newcastle club that's taken a PR flogging over Joey Barton's contract negotiations in the past couple of days, this signing would be a reassuring signal of ambition for the ever-fretting Toon Army. Cross fingers and watch highlights. 

(Note: Cabaye has been featured in our NUFC summer transfer guide, Building A Better Newcastle - check it out for more on Cabaye and other potential Toon targets.)

Comments

[Jwclark2342]

How many times have you watched him? Do you think he can handle the prem?

[Bob]

I've watched Lille only once this season and while Cabaye didn't jump out at me the midfield play as a whole was impressive - the star strikers have obviously benefited from that. Tom has been tracking Gervinho and Sow and I believe he's seen two or three Lille matches. Tom's on vacation for the holiday weekend, but if he had serious reservations about Cabaye's ability to make it in the PL, he'd have said so. Though the Ligue 1-EPL transition is never a sure thing. We'll wait to hear from the oracle himself.

[Ryan]

Sounds like a solid signing if true. I get foxsoccer.tv, so I will try to watch a Lille match or two in the archives and see how he does.

[Jwclark2342]

foxsoccer.tv...good shout.

[Tom]

Hey guys, thanks for the comments. I'm commenting from the north woods of Wisconsin.

I think Cabaye would give NUFC its most technically gifted central midfielder since Emre. My main concern with foreign players is always how they'll deal with the pace and power of the EPL. But you always have that risk, and I think Cabaye is worth the chance.

I've seen Lille 3-4 times this season, but I'm going to watch their last match and keep a close eye on Cabaye.