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NEWCASTLE HAVE BEEN WARNED BY FORMER STAR YOHAN CABAYE THAT THEY MUST KEEP HOLD OF THEIR BEST PLAYERS THIS SUMMER AFTER SECURING A TOP FOUR FINISH IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE 06:00, 28 May 2025

Former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has thrown his support behind his old club to retain their star players and push for top honours following their qualification for next season's

Champions League. The Magpies secured their spot in Europe's elite competition with a fifth-place finish in the Premier League on Sunday. Eddie Howe will see the team's Champions

League place as a significant advantage in keeping key players like Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento, who are all drawing attention from rival clubs.

"Of course it's important to keep these players," Cabaye, who became a fan favourite at St James' Park during his three-year stay at St James' Park from 2011 to

2014, told the PA news agency. "When you do a great season, it's normal that your players are linked with other football clubs. "But today Newcastle is one of the biggest

clubs of the country. So I think they have got the capacity to keep them. "Trust me, to play for Newcastle is something special – and keeping those players is going to be key for next

season." Article continues below Cabaye, who hung up his boots in 2020 after stints with Paris St Germain, Crystal Palace, Al-Nasr, and St Etienne, is currently the sporting director of

PSG's youth academy. He was present at Wembley in February to witness Newcastle lift the Carabao Cup, ending a 70-year drought for a major domestic trophy by defeating Liverpool.

Reflecting on the club's achievements, Cabaye remarked: "They've won a trophy and to make the Champions League makes it a fantastic season. "But most of all they have a

vision and they build on season after season. "I know they want to develop themselves as a football club, and the big support they get from the fans is massive. "I'm not in

the back office and don't know their strategy in terms of transfers, but if they can keep the best players and add value on the pitch they can compete for the big trophies. "I have

only been back there for the Champions League last season when PSG played them. "But my plan is to go back there and watch a game with my seven-year-old son Maian, because he

doesn't know about Newcastle. He has to understand what is Newcastle." Article continues below