Rumour: Chelsea set to hijack Newcastle United’s move for French star Remy Cabella

Remy Cabella: Impressed with 14 goals this season

Chelsea are set to stun Newcastle United and make a move for French star Remy Cabella, according to the Metro.

The Montpellier man has been heavily linked with a move to Tyneside and was extremely close to joining the Toon in the January transfer window. However, Cabella’s employers held out for a deal closer to £10 million, a few million more than the seven offered by Pardew and co. Pardew is also set to sign Tenerife’s Ayoze Perez, but his primary focus would have been Cabella.

Reports surfaced this week that Cabella would join Newcastle this summer and the deal seemed just a formality. However, surprisingly, Jose Mourinho is set to make a move the creative midfielder and against all the odds, the Portuguese manager seems set to snatch Cabella away from the north-east club’s grasp.

The 24-year-old has been told he can leave Montpellier after rejecting a new contract from the club and Mourinho is ready to lure the Frenchman to the club. Cabella failed to make the France World Cup squad, but he is highly-rated in Ligue 1 and a move to Chelsea could certainly help propel them to the top next season.

Chelsea are willing to offer him £90,000-a-week, which completely out-do Newcastle’s offer for the tricky midfielder and Pardew may have to look elsewhere with Mourinho’s financial muscle stronger than the former Charlton boss’.