5 Premier League Clubs Who Should Target Yohan Cabaye in January
If reports are to be believed, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Yohan Cabaye is ready to move back to the Premier League in the January transfer window, and this should interest several clubs.
Fellow former Newcastle United man Olivier Bernard recently suggested in his column for the Newcastle Chronicle that the midfielder "will be back in England in January, absolutely no doubt."
Cabaye's BBC Sport-reported £19 million move to the France capital has heralded just 25 Ligue 1 appearances, and a lack of game time is the main factor behind Bernard's speculation.
He suggested: "[Cabaye] will come back to the Premier League and he will already be looking for a club to join that will get him the games that he needs to guarantee him a place in the France squad."
A formidable talent, the reported availability of Cabaye will dominate Premier League transfer gossip.
Here are five Premier League clubs that should look to sign Yohan Cabaye in the January transfer window, for various reasons and in no particular order.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
Arsenal
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Cabaye was close to joining Arsenal before his move to PSG, but their £10 million bid wasn't enough for Newcastle.
Nick Lustig of the Daily Star even quoted Cabaye as claiming he "had wanted to play under Arsene Wenger last summer."
With the Gunners once more struggling with a soft midfield core of Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini, the signing of Cabaye could boost their top-four prospects this season.
As Bernard testified: "[Cabaye is] very hard when he needs to be and he’s a clever player when he’s on the ball." Two qualities that Arsenal so desperately need in midfield.
Perhaps Wenger should revisit his interest in his compatriot this January.
Manchester United
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Manchester United are struggling immensely with injuries this season, with a lengthy layoff for defensive midfielder Daley Blind further hampering their ambitions of a top-four Premier League finish.
Even with a fully-fit squad, the Red Devils are missing a player to link defence and attack.
In his last season with Newcastle, Cabaye scored seven goals in 19 appearances, and Bernard's claim that "he can attack the box and he can take a chance," while remaining disciplined should interest United.
Cabaye could help shore up a rocky United midfield and contribute at the other end of the pitch for Louis van Gaal's side, too.
Liverpool
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Liverpool face the daunting prospect of phasing out the contributions of a waning Steven Gerrard this season, and Cabaye could prove to be the perfect foil for this.
Gerrard performed admirably in his deep-lying role last season, scoring 13 times and making a further 13 goals.
However, he is becoming an area to exploit for various opposition attacks this season.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers needs a player capable of shielding his struggling back line as well as creating from deep, and Bernard suggested "Yohan’s game is better when he has to do that."
Averaging a surprising 2.4 tackles and 2.4 interceptions per game in his last season with Newcastle, and making an average of 1.7 key passes, Cabaye may be the man to replace the Liverpool captain.
Newcastle United
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A dream move back to Tyneside may be hampered by many factors, but Newcastle manager Alan Pardew should go all out to re-sign Cabaye in January.
The midfielder went "on strike" after his move to Arsenal was thwarted in 2013, per the Daily Mirror, and, after having returned to the Champions League with PSG, he would surely consider the Toon a step down.
However, when Cabaye left Newcastle their style of play collapsed along with their league form, and the former Lille man was undoubtedly their most important player and their creative lynchpin.
While Newcastle's form has picked up of late, a January move for Cabaye could elevate their prospects.
However unlikely it may be.
Chelsea
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It seems preposterous to suggest Chelsea, with their exceptional squad, as a possible destination for Cabaye, but there is still room for improvement at Stamford Bridge.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wilson pointed to the side's lack of clean sheets this season, suggesting "part of the issue this season may be the slight change in midfield...last year there were usually two defensive presences in front of the back four."
Although the partnership of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas is flourishing, Jose Mourinho may opt for two deep-lying midfielders at times this season.
Cabaye would be a more solid and generally functional auxiliary defensive midfielder than players such as John Obi Mikel and Ramires, and he would represent balance alongside Matic.
With their remarkable depth elsewhere as testimony, a Chelsea move for Cabaye cannot be ruled out.
