A Progress Report on PSG's January Signing Yohan Cabaye

Just under 12 months since Yohan Cabaye made his move from Newcastle United to Paris Saint-Germain for an initial 19 million pound (24.25 million Euro) fee, as reported by BBC, it is time to check in on the French international to see how he has fared in the capital.

After almost a full calendar year back in Ligue 1, it is safe to say that things have not gone as planned for the 28-year-old or how PSG envisaged.

Cabaye has failed to break into coach Laurent Blanc’s regular starting XI and the cultured midfielder has not added much to the team when played. Aside from goals against Bayer Leverkusen in last season’s run to the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals and RC Lens in Ligue 1 earlier this campaign, the former Lille OSC star has done precious little to justify the money spent on him.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Les Parisiens’ No. 4 has added two assists to those two goals, but just two goals and another two provided is below the least that was expected of Cabaye when he arrived in Paris almost one year ago. On top of that, he has also seen red once in Le Championnat since arriving and has had a number of injury problems.

When he signed for PSG, Cabaye was expected to carry on his impressive Newcastle United form and eventually work his way into Blanc’s plans. Initially, things started well enough with a goal and an assist in the team’s two wins over Leverkusen in the Champions League last 16, but that is as good as it has got so far.

Back in October, Cabaye even admitted to L’Equipe (h/t ESPN FC) that he is not happy with his situation at Parc des Princes and could see himself leaving if the situation does not improve.

However, realistically, he has nobody but himself to blame.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Cabaye has allowed his form to drop dramatically and it is only now, with the massive decline in Thiago Motta’s form, that the Frenchman genuinely has a chance to make one of the starting midfield roles in Blanc’s team his own. The former Newcastle star must address his floundering form before thinking about securing a regular role, though.

Such was his decline in form, that it also hindered his performances with France in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Cabaye was a key player for Les Bleus' coach Didier Deschamps, but he was not at the same level as his late 2013 and early-2014 showings. 

Jacques Brinon/Associated Press

Recent performances, like in the 1-0 friendly win over Inter Milan and the 3-0 Coupe de France success away at Montpellier HSC, suggest that an improvement in Cabaye’s form could be just around the corner. However, it will now take more than a pair of decent showings to convince Blanc and the PSG hierarchy that he is worth persevering with.

More likely is that the French giants persevere with him until the end of the season, giving him plenty of chances without handing him Motta’s role in the team on a permanent basis, before trying to find a buyer in the summer as part of a reshuffle ahead of next season.

Cabaye’s stock remains high in England, despite his disappointing opening year of his second spell in France. A few eye-catching performances between now and May could alert some of those potential suitors and boost his price tag up to something close to the fee paid by PSG for his services last year.

He is also under pressure to perform with his place in the national team now under scrutiny.

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

The likes of Blaise Matuidi and Marco Verratti remain far ahead of Cabaye in the pecking order at club level, though, and the return of Adrien Rabiot to the first-team squad has complicated the situation further. In fact, it was a knee injury to the talented teenager Rabiot that prompted PSG to move for Cabaye in the first place.

January transfer moves often prove to be hastily thought out and rarely meet with resounding success, and this transfer has been no different. Cabaye and PSG are not a good fit, but now is not the right time for the capital club to jettison the France international.

There is still time for a departure this month, but it is more likely that another of Les Parisiens’ peripheral stars like Clement Chantome heads for the exit instead. What is more probable is that, based on his disappointing first year with PSG, there will not be a full second to report on for Cabaye.