According to recent reports, Yohan Cabaye is inching closer to a contract extension with Crystal Palace. The 32-year-old was observed training at Marseille ahead of the UEFA Europa League final but has been left out of the final 23-man France squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. On completion of his previous deal with the Eagles, rumours had even circling about his possible return to the Ligue 1 but this set of news will definitely come as a massive boost for the Palace fans.
Cabaye has played an integral role in keeping the team above the choppy waters of relegation last season. He appeared in 34 games, commanding the midfield with every step and putting in a decent shift on defence.
He is also quite possibly the best creative option for Roy Hodgson, other than Wilfried Zaha and brings a lot of experience into the side. However, his single assist this season is evidence of the fact that his best years are behind him.
Cabaye can still do the needful of linking up his with his teammates and channelling a couple of through balls but one should not expect to see brilliant feats of magic on a nightly basis. What he is good at is consistency.
He is not the most prolific in his usual way of operation but Hodgson has always found him to be reliable. The Palace midfield currently has Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur as the holding options and Cabaye has mostly featured ahead of the duo.
Newcastle United was the Frenchman’s proving ground as 93 senior team appearances and 18 goals and 14 assists earned him a move to Paris Saint-Germain in January 2014. The move to the Ligue 1 bore no great fruit, delegating the central midfielder to more of a bench role than as a starter.
After spending one-and-a-half seasons at the French capital, Cabaye was shifted off to Palace to make way for further additions. At the time, it looked like the Frenchman’s career was taking a massive detour given the lengths he was descending down to.
But eventually, the move to Selhurst Park proved to be an ideal escape. He bagged £100,000-a-week for three seasons and was almost a cemented starter for the entirety of his association. He even got named for the national team squad in the 2016 Euro Cup, next to players like Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and N’Golo Kante.
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Roy Hodgson has further plans of improving upon the team’s performances next season and Cabaye still has the legs to meet expectations. So a new deal might be imminent for the influential Frenchman to tie him down at the club.
