Newcastle raid Montpellier for Remy Cabella

Newcastle United, 6/4 for a top 10 finish this season, have captured exciting attacking midfielder Remy Cabella from Montpellier. He joins for an undisclosed fee, reportedly around £12m, which would make the Frenchman the club’s most expensive signing since Michael Owen joined for £17m in 2005.

France international Cabella recently returned from Brazil, having being selected in Didier Deschamps’ 23-man World Cup squad, but was left on the sidelines, failing to make an appearance as Les Bleus crashed out to eventual winners Germany.

The former Montpellier man becomes Newcastle’s fourth summer signing, as Alan Pardew continues to strengthen a somewhat depleted side, after the loss of Yohan Cabaye to PSG in January and loan star Loic Remy’s return to parent club QPR.

Cabella follows former Sunderland midfielder Jack Colbeck, ex-Ajax attacker Siem de Jong and young Spanish striker Ayoze Perez to St James’ Park, in what looks set to be a transfer window of change for the Magpies.

These expensive additions should somewhat soften the blow for fans, as Cabella’s compatriot Mathieu Debuchy edges ever-closer to a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Cabella is a versatile player like fellow new clubmate De Jong, but can be deployed centrally or wide on either flank, providing Pardew with plenty of tactical options, and will likely fill the role of playmaker left vacant by Cabaye.

Joining Newcastle on a six-year contract, the Frenchman, a late call-up to replace injured Franck Ribery in the World Cup squad, netted 14 goals and five assists for Montpellier last season.

Having tasted silverware success with his former club, who won the Ligue 1 title in 2012, 24-year-old Cabella becomes the latest in a line of hungry, young recruits for Pardew in what will be a new-look Newcastle.
His eye for goal will certainly prove useful for the Tyneside club, who only scored 43 goals in 38 league games last campaign, and are 8/1 to be relegated this term.