3. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
Nationality: French Current Club: Montpellier Position: Centre-half Fee: £7m (according to the Mail Online) Probably the most exciting of all four mooted deals is that which might see Montpellier's French League winning captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwaheading to Tyneside for a fee of around £7m. That might seem to spell the end of Fabricio Coloccini's time at St. James' Park, with talks concerning his future ongoing, but Alan Pardew will have added ammunition to take to those talks to try and keep the Argentine in place in the North East with this considerable statement of intent. Either way, Yanga-Mbiwa is an eye-catching signing of the highest pedigree, and he will help sure up a Newcastle backline that has looked shaky since November, especially with Mike Williamson on the pitch. He is athletic and powerful and comfortable with the ball, to the extent that he could play in midfield, as well as being comfortable at full-back. Montpellier have confirmed that their captain is currently in Newcastle for a medical with a view to completing a deal, and the player himself spoke to the official club site to discuss his potential departure:
"This is a country where everybody loves football and I really want to experience this culture. It is one of the things you want to discover as a player. "I feel I have given everything to the maximum while at Montpellier. They have been like my second family and have given me everything. There were hard times and good times but there is a very strong bond that unites us."
Should the move go through, it would likely leave Montpellier club president Louis Nicollin annoyed, as he told French journalists on Monday that:
"If he's an ass, it's not my fault, but I think his manager has a lot to do with it. Newcastle really isn't a good choice. He'll get himself moved on next year, but it doesn't bother me. "We agreed that he could leave if he found a club he liked. We're not going to cry. His head was no longer at Montpellier, but it's not a problem. He's not irreplaceable. The important thing is that we get some money in."
http://youtu.be/qVi4N5Cunnc