As expected, Newcastle United have just confirmed the sale of French midfielder Yohan Cabaye to Paris St Germain for an undisclosed fee. The news was expected to be officially released when new club PSG unveiled the France international at a press conference this evening, but the North East side have sent out confirmation that the sale has now gone through. In a statement, the club confirm the sale of the player, who joined the club two and a half years ago from Lille, and offered a message of best wishes.
"Newcastle United have benefitted significantly from Yohan's talents since his arrival from Lille in the summer of 2011, and the player has likewise benefitted, developing hugely during his time on Tyneside. The Club wanted to keep him but the lure of Champions League football and the prospect of being involved in the sporting project at PSG was an opportunity that Yohan made very clear to us he wanted to take. Yohan leaves the Club with our best wishes for his future at PSG and, hopefully, as part of the French national squad for this summer's World Cup."
Cabaye has been instrumental in Newcastle's resurgent form this season, scoring 7 goals, and chipping in stats that rivalled those of new Manchester United star Juan Mata. And though the fee remains undisclosed, it's not thought that Cabaye went for anything close to the astronomical fee that the Red Devils paid Chelsea. The MailOnline suggest that the deal is worth £23m to Newcastle, which represents a significant uplift on what they paid for him. Attention will now turn to who Newcastle can get in before the transfer window closes on Friday night, with reports today suggesting that Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier was top of the club's priorities. If he does sign, he will likely join Dutch striker Luuk De Jong as a new recruit ahead of the Magpies' eye-catching derby on Saturday against Sunderland. What do you think of the sale of Yohan Cabaye? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.