AN expanding list of European clubs are monitoring Newcastle United’s move for Remy Cabella in the hope of being able to trump any St James’ Park offer for the French playmaker.

Cabella has been high in the sights of Graham Carr, the Magpies’ chief scout, throughout the last nine months and sources in France claim there has been contact between the two clubs.

Newcastle are understood to have discussed an initial £6.5m offer for the playmaker, but Montpellier are looking for almost double that figure.

Newcastle will need to act swiftly to get a deal done, however, with Montpellier aware of a number of clubs pondering bids for the 24-year-old.

As well as Marseille keen on keeping him in France, it has emerged that newly-crowned Spanish champions Atletico Madrid have made their interest known.

Atletico have greater financial power in the transfer market after winning La Liga and reaching this Saturday’s Champions League final – and are ready to make moves on top targets once they have faced Real Madrid in Lisbon.

Borussia Dortmund have asked to be kept informed of any developments, so Newcastle’s chances of landing Cabella this summer would appear to hinge on how much he wants to play in the Premier League.

Arsenal and Manchester United have both been credited with an interest in the past, but neither have shown their hand at this stage.

Newcastle have done their homework on Cabella, who can play anywhere across the supporting attacking line behind a lone striker. His best position is in behind a centre-forward rather than out wide.

His 14 goals for Montpellier this season have put him on the fringes of a World Cup call. Cabella, who has two years remaining on his contract, is in no rush to make a decision on his future until he knows whether he will be heading to Brazil. He is on Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps’ stand-by list.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is keen to make quick progress on the transfer front as he attempts to strengthen a squad which has been exposed as too thin since the turn of the year.

And with Shola Ameobi likely to be leaving Tyneside this summer, along with the departing loan forwards Loic Remy and Luuk De Jong, attacking options will be extremely short.

Ameobi’s availability on a Bosman free has alerted a number of clubs and Hull City, managed by former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, is known to be one of those leading the way for his signature. He could, however, wait until he has found out if he is heading to the World Cup with Nigeria having been named in a provisional 30-man squad for the finals.

Long term attacking target Bafetimbi Gomis is one of the names still in the frame to head for Tyneside to replace Ameobi and Remy, but he has already had three offers from Turkish clubs.

Galatasaray, Besiktas and Trabzonspor are all thought to have tabled lucrative wage offers to the France international as he considers his next move ahead of his contract expiring next month.