I think there are some things you can reasonably deduce from what we do know.

1. He has been our primary target all along.
2. A fee has been agreed, and in all likelihood so has a contract.
3. But Cabaye has more than one offer on the table.
4. He has not yet decided where he wants to go.
5. And nothing more can be done until he does.

Which means,

6. It's now up to Steve Parish and Alan Pardew to do a sales job.
7. But in the meantime, have no doubt that they have a Plan B.
8. Because they have confirmed we need a creative central midfielder, whether it's Cabaye or not.
9. As soon as Cabaye makes his mind up -- either way -- things will happen quickly as the "work" of the deal is likely done.
10. It's the first week of pre-season training so right now, probably Cabaye feels he has a little time and Parish and Pardew aren't panicking for an answer...yet.
11. My guess is that we'd want to resolve this by the end of next week and take him to Cape Town with the squad if he is joining. Or move on to Plan B if he's not.
12. So I would guess there will be a few more days of indecision unless Cabaye suddenly makes up his mind. But the pressure will ramp up at the start of next week.
13. If I had to guess, I think -- marginally -- that he will come because I see no better offers on the table. Roma are more glamorous perhaps but a new league is a far riskier proposition for someone who wants to be in the Euros next year than returning to a league he knows, and where he has had success.
14. West Ham may be a marginally "bigger club" than us historically, but their immediate past suggests they are filled with risk and are a far bigger unknown. We are a club on the up with a manager who knows how to make the player shine. Given that he needs to shine this season to achieve his personal goals, that is important.
15. If a genuinely big club in England come along, we may lose him. At the moment there seems to be no sign of that. In which case I think we are probably the marginal favourites to sign him.
16. The biggest threat would probably be Spurs of Liverpool or one of the top four putting in a bid.
17. If they don't, I think we can be cautiously optimistic (though far from certain) it will get done.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

duplicate

Edited by MPE (07 Jul 2015 7.47pm)

Just when I thought that I was out...........they pull me back in

very good Syd do you think we will now bid for Benteke or Lambert .

Benteke will leave Villa. As long as the top four plus Liverpool and/or Spurs try to sign him, no point our putting in a bid. If none of those six clubs try to sign him, my view is that it WOULD be worth our putting a bid in, but one of them will. I realise a lot of people think I am mad for holding this view but if it boiled down to the second tier of clubs; West Ham, Everton, Southampton, Stoke, Palace, I think we would have at least a fighting chance.

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.

SkyBet has now got tighter on Cabaye coming to Palace at 1/4...was 2/5 earlier. Fingers crossed.

[Link] Lifelong Palace fan selling loads of Palace stuff I've collected over the years so please check out my Ebay store memorabilialane2011 Cheers, Ian

L'Equipe (France's leading football paper) is reporting that Cabaye is on his way to "rejoin Pardew at Crystal Palace". @vincentduluc

Edited by sydtheeagle (07 Jul 2015 8.15pm)

Sydenham by birth. Selhurst by the Grace of God.