Newcastle steeled for fight to keep Yohan Cabaye from Manchester United

French midfielder cast further doubt over his future at St James’ Park in TV interview

Yohan Cabaye has said he would be interested in a move to United (AFP)

Newcastle are ready to fight to hold on to midfielder Yohan Cabaye, despite the France international admitting he would be interested in a move to Manchester United.

Cabaye cast further doubt over his future at St James’ Park in a television interview by revealing his agents could be in talks about the possibility of a move away from the club he joined two years ago. The vice-captain added that a season spent fighting relegation had taken its toll.

Newcastle, however, will launch a determined bid to hold on to a player they signed for just £4.5m from Lille. Last summer they turned away interest from Tottenham, who are again likely to monitor the central midfielder’s situation, and they have received no official enquiry from United, although the Premier League champions are believed to have had the 27-year-old watched.

Cabaye has no get-out clause in the deal he signed in 2011 and Newcastle reckon the player is worth around £30m, a figure that would test the desire of any side looking to make a move. Cash-rich Ligue 1 clubs Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked with him.

“For the moment I am at Newcastle, you never know what happens in football,” Cabaye told the French television station Canal Plus. “I am here at the moment, the season is not finished as I have still two matches [for France].

“After that I’m going on holiday to clear my head of the difficult season we have just had, and I let my agents work for me. I have had no direct contact with anyone, maybe my agents are currently in the know. As for me, I am here, listening. I like England as well. I will need to look at the situation, but you never know.

“Yes of course, I like this club [Manchester United] for a long time. I like what they do, the boss [Sir Alex Ferguson] has left, but they have appointed a very good successor [David Moyes], and he did some very good things with Everton.”