Arsenal line up midfielder bid as PSG eye replacement

Arsenal are lining up a bid for PSG midfielder Yohan Cabaye, with the French side close to signing Barcelona legend Xavi on loan according to talkSPORT.

In what would be an audacious move by the Ligue 1 champions, they are attempting to temporarily sign Xavi after he recently announced that he was signing for Qatari side Al-Sadd for two years. If they are successful in this endeavour it will further shorten Cabaye’s time on the pitch at the Parc des Princes.

The former Newcastle United star has already found himself on the substitutes’ bench more than he would like, with Thiago Motta, Marco Verratti, and Blaise Matuidi becoming a strong midfield unit for manager Laurent Blanc. This season the 29-year-old has made 36 appearances, but only 20 of them have been starts.

The Gunners could be ready to pounce, with manager Arsene Wenger a long time admirer of the France international. The 63-year-old attempted to bring him to the Emirates in 2013, but failed in his efforts. Now the centre-mid could be perfect to play alongside Francis Coquelin, who has made the defensive midfield role his own in recent months but lacks a creative edge.