Remy Cabella has been a long term target for Newcastle United, after they failed to land him in the January window, despite the player’s father suggesting a deal was done. They are now moving in on signing the attacker, with a group from Newcastle flying out to France this week to complete a deal. It’s clear that the club need plenty of reinforcements after a disastrous finish to the season, and the French winger would be a class signing, who would add both goals and assists to the side. He would be seen as the player who would replace the creativity of Yohan Cabaye. The former Newcastle midfielder is believed to have recommended the club to Cabella, which is why he is so keen to sign.
The Montpellier forward scored 14 times in Ligue 1 last season, in a side that struggled at the wrong end of the league, which earned him a place in the French World Cup squad as Franck Ribery’s replacement. He also got five assists, which highlights how he can be creative as well as clinical in the final third. Newcastle struggled to break down sides last season, but the addition of Cabella would go a long way to rectifying that. He would likely be utilised on the left wing or centrally by Alan Pardew and he made 73 tackles last season, showing he can work hard for the team when needed.
Although Newcastle may not seem a great move for a player of Cabella’s potential, who will be seeking Champions League football, the progression of Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye and Mathieu Debuchy shows why the winger wants a move to Tyneside. The club offers Cabella a chance to play in a top league, for a side with a big stadium, and with a great fanbase. Newcastle are always a side in the spotlight, so players get the chance to show their quality in order to earn a move to a Champions League side. Fans of Newcastle will be disappointed that their club is now viewed as a stepping stone, but sadly this is the reality for mid-table clubs. The Magpies are seen as a more attractive proposition than the majority of Premier League clubs, which is how they can attract players like Cabella.
Newcastle are starting to show that they mean business in the transfer window. Jack Colback was brought in on a free from rivals Sunderland and was a great bit of business, considering his burgeoning reputation in the game and his performances at the back end of last season. Ayoze Perez brings youth and potential to the Newcastle strikeforce, while Siem de Jong brings genuine creative quality and leadership to the side’s midfield. Unlike previous campaigns, it appears Newcastle have a genuine plan for the season and are bringing in players to carry out a more attractive brand of football. Whether Alan Pardew can deliver that is another question.
If Cabella is signed this week, it will be seen as a major coup for the Magpies as he has been courted by many clubs who regularly play in Europe. It will also show again the excellence of the Newcastle United scouting team who can recognise a good player and then lay the groundwork for the deal to be completed. If as expected, Remy Cabella is signing number four, then the club will have to move quickly to add three or four more before the start of the season. They are believed to be close to signing Daryl Janmaat to replace the outgoing Debuchy, while they remain in the hunt for two strikers, with Alexandre Lacazette and Loic Remy heading the list of targets. There are still rumours that they may move to add set piece specialist Clement Grenier before the window closes, but strikers are the priority once the Cabella deal is wrapped up.
