If Arsenal had been a little bit more determined and a little bit less parsimonious in the transfer window last summer, then the France international Yohan Cabaye would have been an Arsenal player already. As it was, the Gunners offered his Premier League club just £10 million for him.
Despite the player clearly wanting to make the transfer to north London, with Alan Pardew dropping him for a couple of games while his head was not on the job, the offer was dismissed as disrespectful and, unsurprisingly, turned down. A few months later the central midfielder did get his move, to the French champions PSG who paid around double the amount that Arsenal had bid.
But the move has not gone as well as Cabaye hoped, as a report in the Evening Standard reveals, and Cabaye is getting fed up with his lack of opportunities and being used mainly as a sub. With PSG’s multi million pound squad including the likes of Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti and Thiago Motta, it is unlikely to get much better for Cabaye either, so it sounds to me as though he is hoping for a return to the Premier League.
The 28-year old Frenchman said, “You have to accept being a substitute, but I don’t resign myself to that. In training sessions, I have to give my best and show my desire to play.
“When I am on the pitch, I feel it is not perfect and that I often have to leave too soon. But I know the coach and staff have to make choices and I respect that.
“Have I spoken to Laurent Blanc? No. What do I tell him? I am 28 years old and not new to the job. But I am not satisfied with the situation.
“Am I completely happy? To be honest, no. It is a new situation for me, but I don’t complain. It is the first time I haven’t played regularly for my club.”
So we already know that Arsene Wenger is a fan and we also know that central midfield is a weak area for the Gunners. What are the chances of a bid from Arsenal in January?