Should Newcastle be worried about losing midfielder? Paris Saint-Germain lurk (Video)
Laurent Blanc has declared his admiration of Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye publicly, to the ire of Alan Pardew, his manager. Squawking like a hen over chicks that a circling hawk has its eye on, Pardew termed the newly-signed PSG gaffer’s remarks ‘disrespectful’. He insisted that the expression of interest should have been made through a phone call or an official bid. Given the Frenchman’s outstanding contribution to the Magpies cause in his first season, one can understand Pardew’s apprehension. He supplied the prolific Papiss Cisse with a good number of the 13 goals he scored in his debut season at St. James’ Park and added a couple himself.
Cabaye proved himself a key player for Newcastle and when he succumbed to a groin problem in November, the dearth of creativity in the Geordies’ play was all too glaring. Not only does the Frenchman do the sexy bit, he also pulls his weight defensively, getting stuck in as uncompromisingly as Paul Scholes would. He really is your model box-to-box midfielder. Only one that doesn’t quite get the credit due him.
Pardew is justified in fearing a swoop like the one Chelsea carried out on Demba Ba in January, just when the Senegalese striker was beginning to find the form that had eluded him the previous season. Especially when it involves such a classy, committed player of Cabaye’s calibre. Here’s a teaser of what Pardew risks losing if Blanc has his way. And if the Edinson Cavani capture is anything to go by…
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