Cabaye not for sale: Kinnear
Cabaye set to stay at St James Park
Newcastle United‘s new Director of Football, Joe Kinnear, has dismissed speculations surrounding star midfielder Yohan Cabaye‘s future. The Frenchman has been been linked with moves to both Manchester United and AS Monaco, but the former Newcastle United manager insists that the player is going nowhere.
Kinnear said, “He will stay. We’ve got him under contract and we want to keep all of our top players here. We don’t feel we have to sell our top stars.”
French international Cabaye recently said a return to his homeland would be an interesting proposition should AS Monaco make an offer.
“Monaco have the means to build a strong team,” Cabaye told a British newspaper.
“It might interest everyone.”
He has also expressed his desire to move to the Premier League champions Manchester United, saying he would relish a move to Old Trafford.
When asked about a prospective move to United, Cabaye said, “Yes, of course. I’ve liked this club (Manchester United) for a long time, I like what they do. The boss has left but they have appointed a very good successor and he did some good things with Everton.
“They are always well played among the big clubs. Yes, for sure, it would be an interesting challenge. I have had no direct contact with everyone; maybe my agents are currently in the know.
“As for me, I am listening. I like England as well but will need to look at the situation but you never know in football,”
Kinnear, who now claims to have complete control of Newcastle’s transfers, says that the only players leaving the club will be the ones who are not good enough.
“The only players we will move on are the ones that are coming up short. You can’t have that at a massive football club like this.
“We will have to move them on. We can’t have mediocre players at Newcastle United. But we won’t be selling our best players.
Kinnear is also adamant that he can form a good working relationship with manager Alan Pardew.
“Before I had a meeting with Mike (Ashley), Derek (Llambias) said he’s informed Alan, and Alan said ‘Great news – I’m delighted with that. At last I’ve got somebody who’s a football guy’,” Kinnear said.
“I have the utmost respect for him and I cannot see any problems between the two of us. I am not the type of guy who causes problems for the sake of it. I want the best for all of us.”
Source: Sky Sports