Newcastle told to stump up more cash to sign Cabaye replacement

Plundering Ligue 1 for their finest talent is a path well trodden by Newcastle, but if the Magpies are to snare their latest target, Remy Cabella, then they’ll have to part with £12m according to French club Montpellier.

This comes as a bit of a kick to the nether regions for Mike Ashley and co, after Newcastle believed a £7m offer for the 24-year-old midfield playmaker had been agreed in principle.

However, Montpellier have since hiked up the price, leaving real question marks over the potential transfer, though reports still suggest Cabella himself is keen on a move to the north east of England.

Cabella, who has been identified by Alan Pardew as the player to replace the creative void left by compatriot Yohan Cabaye at St James Park, actually came onto the field to replace the Paris-St Germain player during France’s latest friendly win over Norway.

That was a game the French won very convincingly 4-0, adding particular attraction to the 4/5 about Didier Deschamps’ charges topping Group E at the forthcoming World Cup finals.

With Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras making up what is considered to be probably the gentlest looking group on paper, Cabella and co could well be a decent 20/1 dark horse for the tournament.

This gives Pardew and Newcastle all the more reason to try and get the deal pushed through in the next two weeks to obtain Cabella’s services before he puts himself in the biggest shop window on the planet.

The Montpellier number 10 has been rewarded with a place in Le Bleus squad for an outstanding league campaign where he netted 14 goals.

Cabella made it into WhoScored.com’s Ligue 1 Best XI and accounted for 31 per cent of his club’s goals in the competition.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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