FLAIR and finance are the dual reasons why Newcastle United are targeting France again this summer.
David Ginola kicked off the Toon Army’s love affair with Gallic flair back in 1995 with Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers, the first of 15 French players to play for United’s first team over two decades.
He talked of falling in love with the North East – of its beauty and the charm of the natives. But this is one romance underscored by cold, hard cash – and the fact that Newcastle are prepared to pay it for the best of the nation’s young talent.
Ligue 1 is a fine competition, but the French top flight does not enjoy the same global profile that has boosted the Premier League’s coffers, which means that wage levels are low in comparison to the eye-watering sums in England. A fine prospect like Newcastle-bound Yohan Cabaye is tripling his wages to come to St James’ Park, yet at around £50,000 a week will still not be among the biggest earners in the United squad.
This opportunity to inject a dash of French creativity at low cost explains why Graham Carr and his team of scouts have been paying so much attention to Ligue 1.
That and the fact Newcastle’s profile across the Channel is enough to give them a real chance of landing some of the country’s crown jewels. Never before has their stock been as high as this.
United are certainly benefiting from a friendly French sporting Press, which has devoted plenty of attention to their careful handling of Hatem Ben Arfa’s rehabilitation from a double leg break.
Ben Arfa is one of the crown jewels of France’s gilded new generation and commands a high profile in his homeland, so tales of Mike Ashley, Derek Llambias and previous manager Chris Hughton paying personal visits to their stricken star boosted Newcastle’s pulling power among the ranks of France’s best young professionals.
No doubt the success of Laurent Robert and Ginola in recent years has a bit of a bearing too. Their moves blazed a trail, putting Newcastle firmly in the forefront of French football’s consciousness at a time when the city didn’t enjoy anything like the profile of Manchester or London.
If Ashley has his way, the French football public will have plenty of reason to follow black-and-white fortunes next season.
