Cabaye Debacle Leaves Newcastle Scrambling

It's no secret that Yohan Cabaye is in high demand. The French midfield maestro was subject of a £10 million bid tabled by Arsenal last week. The bid was immediately rejected as Alan Pardew holds out for double that.

It is likely that the 27 year old will move as Arsenal desperately try to secure a big name signing. French giants PSG have also registered interest and are more likely to pay the £20 million asking price.

So with a key player leaving, a replacement is of paramount importance. The main target at this moment in time appears to be Lyon midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. The 27 year old was scouted by Newcastle on Tuesday as Lyon took on Real Sociedad in the Champions League Play-Offs.

The French international plays predominantly as an attacking midfielder but can also be utilised as a ‘False 9’ striker. He was described as ‘the best French player of his generation’ by France legend, David Ginola. He has also drawn comparisons to Zinedine Zidane.

Bafetimbi Gomis was also scouted in France as Newcastle look to reignite their interest in the forward. The Magpies were priced out of a move earlier this month by Marseille but a move never materialised.

These moves all depend on the leniency of the Newcastle board. The purse strings have been held pretty tightly this summer, the club have only signed two players; Loic Remy on loan from QPR and Olivier Kemen, a £350,000 acquisition from Metz.

Alan Pardew is under pressure from the Toon Army who don’t want to see a repeat of last season. Pardew is bookies favourite to be sacked, a sobering 4-0 defeat at Manchester City did nothing to secure his future.

‘Pardew looks fed up, he’s on his own. It looks as though he’s being hung out to dry,’ Howey told talkSPORT.

‘The owner is basically saying: “It’s my team, I own the club, you get on with it”, and whoever is in that situation will really struggle.

‘His hands have been tied, and if Alan Pardew does get the sack it would be horrendous for Newcastle.

‘When a manager gets sacked, at least they can turn around and say they did it their way.

‘But he doesn’t really have a say in what goes on at the club at all, apart from picking the team.’

Newcastle need to move quickly or face another demoralising relegation battle.

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