Newcastle United Will Target Lyon Playmaker If Yohan Cabaye Leaves St James’ Park

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Gourcuff lined up as replacement if Cabaye joins Arsenal.

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Newcastle have identified Lyon playmaker Yoan Gourcuff as a possible replacement for Yohan Cabaye, who is keen on a move to Arsenal, CaughtOffside understands.

The Magpies have rejected an opening offer of £10million from the Gunners for Cabaye, but are braced for a higher bid to come in shortly, and Alan Pardew is keen to have a like-for-like replacement lined up if Cabaye leaves St James’ Park.

Cabaye has expressed doubts over his future at points this summer after emerging as a target for the likes of PSG, Monaco and Manchester United, as well as after a disappointing season of fighting relegation with Newcastle last season.

The Frenchman is seen as one of the club’s star players, and has made a great impact in the Premier League since joining from Lille for just £4million in 2011, and it seems Pardew no longer holds out much hope of keeping him at the club.

Arsenal’s interest will likely spark PSG into life, and their financial power means they could win the race for the 27-year-old if they make him a priority, though they are also thought to be working on signing Sami Khedira from Real Madrid.

Gourcuff, meanwhile, could be available for a reasonable price this summer, with Lyon admitting last week that they would consider letting him leave the club. Although a top talent, Gourcuff’s career has been blighted by inconsistency and attitude problems, and may represent something of a gamble for Newcastle.

Coincidentally, the skillful attacker has also been mentioned as a target for Arsenal, though they currently seem to hold Cabaye as a higher priority, but he could find his way to the Premier League by joining the ever-growing French contingent at St James’ Park.

Pardew has done well in recent seasons to bring in players on the cheap from Ligue 1, Cabaye included, and could use these connections again in an attempt to add Gourcuff to his squad.

The former AC Milan player showed glimpses of his great ability last season, scoring 3 goals and providing 7 assists for Lyon, helping them to a 3rd place finish in Ligue 1, and could certainly fill the creative midfield void that would be left by Cabaye’s departure.

It could take just £7million to tempt Lyon into selling Gourcuff, and Pardew will be delighted to bring someone in quickly, after previously expressing a concern that losing Cabaye now would not give him enough time to replace him before the end of the summer.

It has been a relatively quiet summer at St James’ Park, with the only major signing so far being striker Loic Remy on loan from Queens Park Rangers.

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