Manchester United Prepare £15m Bid for French Midfielder - Report

Manchester United have bid £15m for Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye, according to the Sunday People. David Moyes is eager to strengthen midfield options ahead of the new season and has shifted focus to the Frenchman after losing Spaniard Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich.

The report claims Cabaye is also being tracked by cash-rich Ligue 1 sides Monaco and Paris St Germain (PSG). However, the newly promoted financial powerhouse and the French champions will have their work cut out; Cabaye is understood to want to remain in the Premier League.

"Yes of course, I like this club [Manchester United] for a long time. I like what they do, the boss [Sir Alex Ferguson] has left, but they have appointed a very good successor [David Moyes]... yes for sure it could be an interesting challenge," he explained.

United's approach could also be helped by the fact the 27-year-old midfielder is reportedly unhappy at St James' Park. Cabaye signed for the Magpies in 2011, for a reported fee of £4.3m. He is contracted to the club till 2016.

Moyes' first choice target, however, remains Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The former Arsenal captain's future at the Nou Camp has come under question following the shock retirement of manager Tito Vilanova and United hope a big-money offer (for both club and player) will push the transfer through.

Sky Sports believes the Premier League champions have launched a £30m bid (not including add-ons) for the 26-year-old Spain international.

Meanwhile, so far as the race for Cabaye's signature is concerned, United will run into difficulties with PSG involved. The French champions have already spent over €100m (roughly £87m) this summer and will not be scared to add to that figure. The Shields Gazette believes the Tyneside club will demand £25m if PSG approach, meaning United's £15m offer is likely to be rejected.

United's interest in Cabaye is long-standing though, with the Mail Online linking him to Old Trafford, and Arsenal and Barcelona as well, last summer. The midfielder made only 26 Premier League starts last year, due to injury problems, but scored six goals and created two more.

Newcastle's new director of football, Joe Kinnear, is confident the player will not leave the club.

"We've got him under contract - and we want to keep all of our top players here. We don't feel we have to sell our top stars. The only players we will move on are the ones that are coming up short. But we won't be selling our best players," he told the Chronicle.