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Adel Taarabt says Premier League new boys Queens Park Rangers would sell him this summer for £10million.
Contract talks between the inspirational midfielder and the club have broken down and the 22-year-old now wants to leave. Worse still, he is tipping Championship winners Rangers for instant relegation.
Ace Adel: Taarabt was voted the best player in the Championship last season
All of which will be music to the ears of Newcastle, who had a £5m bid for the midfielder rejected in January, as manager Alan Pardew continues to rebuild his team after adding Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux to his squad.
Taarabt, voted the best player in the Championship last season, said last night: 'I helped QPR win promotion but they will not offer me a better contract. They say I am already on big wages.
'They want me to stay four years on the same terms. But I don't want to sign for four years then after one year I am going to be back in The Championship.
'No disrespect, but if we keep the same players, it will be very difficult to stay in the Premier League when you are playing Man United and Chelsea.'
Taarabt's contract runs until 2013 but it is believed there is a break clause that could be activated by the Moroccan next summer.
Champions: but Taarabt as tipped QPR to go straight back down
Rangers have had offers of £5m but have told him they will only let him go for £10m. 'It's a lot of money because I have not been successful yet in the Premier League,' he said.
'But when Rangers sell me they have to give 40 per cent of the fee to Tottenham, my first club.'
Despite interest from Paris St-Germain and Juventus, Taarabt wants to stay in the Premier League. He said: 'Why should I go to France and play some games in front of 7,000 people? I like it in England. The stadiums are full all the time.
'I understand that QPR have changed my life. People had almost forgotten me when I joined from Tottenham. But I don't think they are being fair to me.'
Pardew, whose rebuilding plans have already seen the departure of physical English players Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan, is a long-time admirer and can be expected to re-enter the race for a player who could end up being idolised at St James' Park in the same way as Paul Gascoigne, a player he is often likened to.
French-born Senegal striker Ba and Rennes wide-man Marveaux arrived last week on free transfers and another French flair player, Hatem Ben Arfa, is due back from long-term injury.
Although he speaks good English, having joined Spurs as a 17-year-old, Taarabt said: 'It is good for me that Newcastle have a few French players.
'People say Newcastle will be good for me, that the fans love players like me. It is fantastic to play in front of 50,000 supporters every week. I do not need one of the very big clubs at this stage.'
There is still uncertainty about the future ownership of QPR, with steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal trying to wrest control from Bernie Ecclestone.
Contract talks between the inspirational midfielder and the club have broken down and the 22-year-old now wants to leave. Worse still, he is tipping Championship winners Rangers for instant relegation.
Ace Adel: Taarabt was voted the best player in the Championship last season
All of which will be music to the ears of Newcastle, who had a £5m bid for the midfielder rejected in January, as manager Alan Pardew continues to rebuild his team after adding Demba Ba and Sylvain Marveaux to his squad.
Taarabt, voted the best player in the Championship last season, said last night: 'I helped QPR win promotion but they will not offer me a better contract. They say I am already on big wages.
'They want me to stay four years on the same terms. But I don't want to sign for four years then after one year I am going to be back in The Championship.
'No disrespect, but if we keep the same players, it will be very difficult to stay in the Premier League when you are playing Man United and Chelsea.'
Taarabt's contract runs until 2013 but it is believed there is a break clause that could be activated by the Moroccan next summer.
Champions: but Taarabt as tipped QPR to go straight back down
Rangers have had offers of £5m but have told him they will only let him go for £10m. 'It's a lot of money because I have not been successful yet in the Premier League,' he said.
'But when Rangers sell me they have to give 40 per cent of the fee to Tottenham, my first club.'
Despite interest from Paris St-Germain and Juventus, Taarabt wants to stay in the Premier League. He said: 'Why should I go to France and play some games in front of 7,000 people? I like it in England. The stadiums are full all the time.
'I understand that QPR have changed my life. People had almost forgotten me when I joined from Tottenham. But I don't think they are being fair to me.'
Pardew, whose rebuilding plans have already seen the departure of physical English players Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan, is a long-time admirer and can be expected to re-enter the race for a player who could end up being idolised at St James' Park in the same way as Paul Gascoigne, a player he is often likened to.
French-born Senegal striker Ba and Rennes wide-man Marveaux arrived last week on free transfers and another French flair player, Hatem Ben Arfa, is due back from long-term injury.
Although he speaks good English, having joined Spurs as a 17-year-old, Taarabt said: 'It is good for me that Newcastle have a few French players.
'People say Newcastle will be good for me, that the fans love players like me. It is fantastic to play in front of 50,000 supporters every week. I do not need one of the very big clubs at this stage.'
There is still uncertainty about the future ownership of QPR, with steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal trying to wrest control from Bernie Ecclestone.
