Transfer Rumours 2013/14

In happier news for Newcastle fans, De Jong is on his way for a medical.

Hopefully Grenier is on his way.

Grenier, Cabella and Luuk De Jong in and Cabaye out isn't the worst window in the world.

Its football fandom. You tend to have moments of spouting unreasonably histrionic and wildly inaccurate bullshit at times. Though the 11 hour figure is on Twitter, and is probably down to what it felt like being at least. Chances are its been in the works for a little while, most likely when he was spotted flying to Paris on FA Cup 3rd Round weekend.

The inconsistency of our business annoys me. In the summer we said we wouldn't sign anyone unless we sold Cabaye for 10m, which we'd use to get a striker and a replacement for Cabaye. Now that it's 20-25m we're still no closer to a replacement for Cabaye (who, let's face it knew was going to leave so we should have had someone sorted) - and we're getting a midtable German clubs reject striker on loan.

If he just came out and said my aim is to keep Newcastle in midtable so I can extract as much money from them as possible without large investment until I sell the club it would make me happier than listening to Pardew and Kinnear's bullshit every transfer window.

The "we can't bid for a replacement until Cabaye is sold" nonsense is infuriating too, it's not that we can't - it's that we don't want to.

Newcastle turned down an approach in the summer for Cabaye. And it's probable there has been interest in other transfer windows for Cabaye and several other players. HBA, Saton, Krul, Coloccini, Debuchy, Cisse, Tiote etc. have all been linked with moves away.

Newcastle were never going to sell Cabaye for £10m in the summer, that's why they rejected it.

Newcastle have apparently identified Grenier and are currently trying to buy him. And have signed Anita and Sissoko in the time Cabaye has been at the club. Funny how the twitter megaminds forget about this when complaining about how replacements should be bought before selling (Also see Cisse/Ba)

Remember 6 months ago? When the ambition was 'just' to stay up every year? Maybe in a couple of years the ambition will be 'just' to be in the CL

Has anyone actually even said that quote?

We've supposedly made an enquiry to PSG about Blaise Matuidi. I'd love him here but doubt we can pull it off.

Why?

His contract runs out in the summer.

I'm surprised more clubs aren't being linked to him.

True, but if my memory serves me the owner of PSG basically told Manchester City to do one when they made an approach for him. I think he even threatened to bid for City players if they want after Matuidi.

For one thing, there's no real indication he wants to leave. He's been involved in a legal dispute over who represents him (Raiola or his old agent) which has caused the delay over a new contract.

On top of that, there's the fact that City (amongst others) really want him, PSG want to keep him and the fact that Arsenal have one of the most well-stocked central midfields in Europe. Looks like a fairly unlikely transfer to happen.