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Yohan Cabaye's representatives are expected to hasten the midfielder's exit from Newcastle United this week.

The midfielder is thought to have settled for a move to Arsenal but now faces an anxious wait to see if the Gunners can cough up the golden price to make his departure a reality.

French sources told the Chronicle last night that the Cabaye camp have been plotting a move to Arsenal over the weekend after the midfielder refused to play for the club for a second time in six days in the weekend stalemate with West Ham.

Cabaye’s representatives want to hold talks with Arsenal - however, until a firm bid is accepted by the Magpies, he remains a Newcastle player and must adhere to club rules.

It is thought that Arsenal are the only firm bidders going into the last few days of the window although Paris St-Germain are long-term admirers of the Toon star.

Cabaye is believed to have told Alan Pardew that he did not want to be involved against the Hammers and the player is now braced to see if he will be fined for opting out of the two matches.

Pardew is thought to have offered the Frenchman a route back into his team after he initially dropped out of the team to face Man City seven days ago.

But Cabaye was nowhere to be seen on Saturday when his team needed him. Understandably, his sulking has gone down like a lead balloon on Tyneside over the weekend yet the player continues to keep his counsel.

Arsenal had a bid of around £11m turned down by the Magpies last Monday but could return today with an advanced offer closer to £13m.

Newcastle will hold out for more, although Cabaye’s representatives feel that more than double the fee the Magpies paid for the midfielder, who joined United for £4.8million from Lille, is a fair price.

With Pardew wanting to add players in the final week of the window rather than see his squad depleted further, the Newcastle boss wants to make sure the Magpies are properly equipped going into the first half of the season.

He told the Chronicle: “You can’t say he is definitely going to stay, so the mindset of the player is such, that we need to be on guard.”

The Cabaye situation is hardly helped by a backdrop of gloom following the non-arrival of permanent signings to St James’ Park.

And United fans made it clear how they felt about Joe Kinnear’s lack of activity as transfer chief so far.

Kinnear was understood to be in France over the weekend checking out Andre Ayew in Marseille in the Veldrome team’s 1-0 win over Valenciennes in northern France.

But an asking price of £15million is likely to be a stumbling block.

United could now be left with gaps to fill in both the striker department and a replacement for Cabaye should he leave – but after a woeful window so far for the Magpies, there are low expectations from fans.

Talking about the growing possibility of Cabaye’s exit, Pardew said: “We are on the case with that. We have to be armed.”

However, Pardew seemed resigned to losing his French ace after the 0-0 draw with West Ham.

He said: “We need to resolve it. If he goes, good luck to him. Bye, bye.

“We need to replace him with somebody as good.”