— BBC Sport - Newcastle sign French midfielder Romain Amalfitano Sounds like one for the future. He should be entering his prime soon, but I would expect the step up in competition from Ligue 2 to the Premiership to be a hurdle to be overcome, but Pardew has shown that he is patient with players. Case in point, Hatem Ben Arfa, for whom I would expect Amalfitano to provide cover. Though it's possible he could understudy Yoann Cabaye in the more advanced of a midfield three.