While Remy Cabella has dominated the Tyneside column inches for the last fortnight it seems Newcastle still retain a strong interest in France international team-mate Clement Grenier. A bid for Cabella has reportedly been submitted that falls just short of the 24-year-old's valuation and our continued interest in Grenier is perhaps an indication that the Club are less than confident of landing the Montpellier playmaker with a host of top European sides now joining the race to sign him. The Magpies attempted to bring Grenier to St James' Park in January as a replacement for Yohan Cabaye but our £11 million offer was rebuffed by Lyon. It's now being claimed by the Mirror that the immensely talented 23-year-old has been speaking to the Newcastle contingent at France's World Cup training camp and would be open to a move to Tyneside in the summer. Like Cabaye, Grenier can play on the right, as an attacking midfielder and in the hole," Hes been talking to the Newcastle lads at the (French) World Cup training camp and hes keen but his agent will demand wages that he feels are appropriate for a player whos going to Brazil. As ever the sticking point will be the salary we're prepared to put forward to Grenier with the demands of his agent likely to come close to matching the £65,000-a-week wage picked up by our highest-earning player, Fabricio Coloccini. But if we're to add proven quality to the squad then the Newcastle hierarchy, in particular Mike Ashley, will have to significantly shift their current frugal recruitment operation if that is to happen. Grenier, to our mind, is more than worth the extra outlay.
