Arsenal go back in for Newcastle man, by way of PSG
Published:
Often when football managers miss out on transfer targets, they don’t return to try and sign them for a second time.
But in the case of Arsene Wenger and Yohan Cabaye, the Gunners boss clearly feels the midfielder is worth pursuing again.
Wenger offered £10m for his compatriot when Cabaye was at Newcastle at the start of last season, with all things pointing towards a north London switch for the pass master.
However, when that deal fell through, the 29-year-old chased silverware with Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth £15.5m.
When he arrived at the Parc des Princes, many wondered just how much game time the Tourcoing native would get among the star-studded line up at the defending Ligue 1 champions, as it has transpired, the answer is not much.
The former Magpie has started just 11 games this season and only three in 2015, a meagre return which follows the 10 he made for the French giants last term.
After almost two seasons of bit-part football, the dead-ball specialist has grown frustrated at a lack of playing time and will reportedly seek assurances over his future involvement at the end of the current campaign.
But with the likes of Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi holding down the central midfield positions, it is unlikely that Laurent Blanc will be able to guarantee Cabaye a greater amount of starts at the club next term.
That will open the door for Wenger to lodge a new bid, thought to be around £10m again, allowing the manager to add another passing superstar to his middle band.
With Jack Wilshere’s injuries woes far from behind him, Wenger will see Cabaye as direct competition to the Englishman as the ball-playing part of his midfield, alongside all-action Aaron Ramsey and defensively-minded Francis Coquelin.
That will allow Santi Cazorla, who has excelled this season, to push further forward into his more natural number 10 slot.
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