Newcastle Transfers: 10 French Bargains Pardew Should Target In January

8. Rio Mavuba

Club: Lille After six and a half years, the French international has told Lille that he wants to leave this season, and though he is 30, if Newcastle are set to cash in on Cheick Tiote sooner rather than later - or force Vurnon Anita out, as seems to be the most likely situation - he might be a good option to bring experience if he's going to cost little. Curiously, the midfielder was born at sea, and didn't officially have a nationality, but has declared and played for France, which clearly makes him a more likely option than any other nationality under the current regime. Likelihood Roma have already been linked with the player in the past, but he failed to attract any interest this summer, and Newcastle might well sniff a bargain. Plus Alan Pardew loves defensive midfielders in his mould and would clearly far rather play a reductive defensive enforcer than a technical one in the style of Anita.