Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye has reportedly passed a medical with AS Monaco, according to one of L'Equipe's TV stations.
#Newcastle midfielder Yohan #Cabaye has passed a medical with #Monaco, according to L'Equipe 21's evening edition. #NUFC
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) June 14, 2013
L'Equipe's report comes from a "sure source" who works in #Monaco's medical centre. Would be v surprised if story was run with no foundation
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) June 14, 2013
AS Monaco, the nouveau riche club du jour (and other French terms) have been spending big in anticipation of their return to Ligue 1, having already captured Falcao from Atletico Madrid for a rumored £50 million (ESPN FC) and Joao Moutinho from Porto for €25 million (over £21 million, link via SB Nation). Nobody seems to know exactly how much Monaco have to spend this summer, but presumably whatever they've apparently agreed for the services of Yohan Cabaye would be a drop in the bucket.
That a fee hasn't been announced is reason enough to doubt the veracity of this report, as is L'Equipe's tendency to report that French clubs (usually PSG) have secured the signatures of Newcastle players when they actually haven't. Still, this is out there, and this story probably isn't going away. Newcastle fans appear to have Cabaye fatigue following an interview he gave to Canal+ about his admiration of Manchester United (Breaking news: Footballer believes good football team to be good, possibly a desirable place to play), but I'm holding out hope that the Toon can retain his services. Perhaps my feelings will change if and when a transfer fee is announced.