Newcastle Transfers: 10 Players Alan Pardew Must Sign Before Man City

4. Clement Grenier

Current Club: Lyon Position: Attacking Midfield With our failure to make any discernible progress in the pursuit of Remy Cabella it is perhaps a sensible move by Newcastle to touch base with Lyon over Grenier and offer a subtle forewarning that Pardew is preparing for a change of direction in his efforts to bring a new playmaker to St James' Park. Grenier's agent, Frederic Guerra, confirmed that we'd made an approach for the France international - who had to withdraw from the Les Bleus World Cup squad due to a recurring groin injury - in January and he's a player we've a long-standing interest in. The 23-year-old, much like international compatriot Cabella, is being slated as a possible replacement for Yohan Cabaye and bears all the hallmarks of the modern no.10 Pardew is so desperate to include in his Magpies side. Grenier's attributes certainly do mirror those of Cabaye and the four goals and six assists he accumulated last season demonstrate a creative talent with a keen eye for goal. But our chances of signing Grenier lie in the hands of Mike Ashley and whether he is prepared to pay the going rate for Lyon's prized asset.