The task of signing for Newcastle United to fill the boots of Yohan Cabaye is one which doesn’t appeal to Clement Grenier, according to his agent.
The Magpies were reluctant to let Cabaye leave St James Park during the January window, but felt they had little choice but to accept an offer from Paris St Germain which has the potential to rise to as much as £23million. Having played a key role for them in the first half of the season, Alan Pardew is keen to replace the 28-year-old before the window shuts.
A deal for Montpellier ace Remy Cabella has been talked of for much of the month, but it appears as though the player will stay at his current club at least for the remainder of the campaign to aid their bid against relegation. So the Newcastle manager has turned his attention to another Frenchman, in the shape of Lyon’s Grenier.
Pardew was said to be confident of landing the 23-year-old before the window shuts at 11pm on Friday, and it is thought that an offer for his signature was placed. However, the agent of the midfielder has revealed that the transfer will not take place this month, as Grenier didn’t fancy being immediately identified as the man signed to replace Cabaye.
“It is not easy to say no to a big club like Newcastle United but Clement Grenier is finally decided to stay in Lyon,” agent Frederic Guerra told Le 10 Sport on Thursday evening. “Clement would have arrived at Newcastle – not as Clement Grenier but as Yohan Cabaye’s replacement. I have the upmost respect for a player of Cabaye’s quality. But who deserves to have that tag? The conditions of the deal did not seem fair.”
Another reason Grenier is currently reluctant to uproot from the club he has served all his professional career, is that he feels it could impact on his chances of appearing for France at the World Cup Finals. Had he moved to England and flopped for six months, for instance, he may have found it difficult to earn a call-up for the tournament in Brazil.
