OPINION
Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez is being forced into the bargain market this month as owner Mike Ashley once again refuses to invest in the squad amid a potential takeover.
The Spaniard will be on the lookout for cut-price permanent deals, loans, and free transfers as he looks to sign players who can help him secure Premier League survival for the Tyneside club.
Aside from looking in the right places, Benitez may need to make some unexpected moves in the coming weeks as he uses any means necessary to bring in the right players.
That may also mean pulling off moves which Newcastle fans do not necessarily agree with, and one such player has just become available to Benitez.
As confirmed on the Al Nasr official Twitter account, former Magpies midfielder Yohan Cabaye is now a free agent after being released from his contract in Dubai.
The France international spent three years on Tyneside between 2011 and 2014, making 93 appearances for the club while scoring 18 goals and providing 14 assists in that time.
The pass master ended up leaving in controversial circumstances when a dream move to PSG came along, but Benitez must ignore the residual hatred from the fans and plot a sensational move for Cabaye on a free this month.
The club’s current central midfielders need some quality additions alongside them this month, with the Magpies having serious issues with depth in that area.
Cabaye’s Premier League experience will be a massive boost to the Newcastle midfield, with his passing range and set-piece ability also coming in handy.
The fact that he is available for free makes this one a no-brainer, and Benitez must plot a swoop as soon as possible before he is inevitably snapped up by someone else.
