Alan Pardew hopes to keep his star players at Newcastle United beyond the January transfer window, but admits every player has a price.
After struggling against relegation last season, it has been an altogether different story this time round as the Magpies target a top-six finish. They bolstered their chances of such an achievement on Saturday afternoon, when they left West Ham United with maximum points following a 3-1 win which keeps them amongst the chasing pack.
Yohan Cabaye was again the star at Upton Park, hitting two goals to take his tally for the campaign to seven. The France international was keen to leave St James Park during the summer when Arsenal were interested, and whilst the Gunners are no longer thought to be monitoring him, he has been linked with Manchester United in recent weeks.
This is sure to be a concern to Newcastle fans with 12 days of the window remaining, particularly as David Moyes is desperate for midfield reinforcements and the fact Cabaye is eligible for the UEFA Champions League. And Pardew admits he too is slightly nervous about the situation, especially as he accepts everyone ultimately has a price.
“All the transfer windows as manager of Newcastle United are nervy and I will be nervous until it closes,” said the Newcastle manager. “Everybody is for sale at some price, but we’re conscious that we have a good team and we will try to keep it together.”
As well as Cabaye, there has also been speculation about the future of Davide Santon, the former Internazionale fullback who is said to be interesting Roma. And midfield playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa, who has struggled to establish himself in the starting XI this season, has been linked with a return to France. But it is Cabaye, a bargain £4.5million signing from Lille in the summer of 2011, who is the real concern for Pardew.
