Bid accepted for Gameiro and deal done for Yohan Cabaye?

There are reports in France suggesting that Newcastle have secured the services of 24-year-old Lille midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

Nothing is confirmed as yet although rumour suggests that the French international has signed a five-year deal with NUFC pending successful completion of a medical as well as other formalities. Could this be the international midfielder that Alan Pardew was insistent that we were looking at during the week? Who knows...

In other transfer news, and according to more reports in France, Newcastle have had a bid accepted for Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro with a fee said to be around the €12 million mark. Gameiro has expressed a preference to join Valencia although it would appear that they are having a hard time trying to match our offer due to their financial issues.

Both of them are excellent players so I really do hope these rumours are true. Time will tell on that of course, but what I will say is that the French press are usually more accurate than their UK counterparts and generally have to have a verified reason to print a story. In short, they can't just print what they like as they are under much stricter regulation over there.

Back to Cabaye, and a move for him would kind of fit in with our French scouting activities to be honest. There have been numerous reports of scouts at French games, Lille games even, so perhaps this is the man that caught their attention?

A box-to-box midfielder with an eye for a pass and a knack of popping the ball in the back of the net is the best way to describe Cabaye. He's made 252 appearances for his various clubs and has managed 39 goals and 35 assists, but it's only really since 2007 that he has featured consistently in the first team at Lille. Here is a sneak peek at Cabaye in action.



As I've said, nothing is official or anything so you can take this with as many pinches of salt you feel you need to, but if it is true then we've pulled off another great import from the French league, and all for a bargain fee suggested of around the €4 million mark.

Not bad at all!