Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has insisted he will put the club before Yohan Cabaye or any other player.
The 52-year-old declined to confirm whether or not the France international, who was the subject of a rejected transfer bid from Arsenal, refused to play in the first two games of the season against Manchester City and West Ham.
However, he revealed that no second offer has been received, and that the midfielder will play no part in the Capital One Cup second round tie at Morecambe as his future is thrashed out.
Pardew, who faced a barrage of questions about Cabaye at his pre-match press conference, said: "The answer isn't as simple as a 'yes' or a 'no'.
"The answer is he is either going to be sold and we are going to have to replace him in the window that we have left, or he's going to stay.
"But I, as the manager, have to protect him and protect the football club, more importantly. The first thing on my agenda is the football club, trust me, and that will always come first while I am the manager here."
The Gunners are understood to have offered around £10million for Cabaye with Newcastle looking for double that, and Pardew is adamant Arsene Wenger will not get the former Lille man on the cheap.
He said: "The bottom line is with world-class players if they move on, it has to be world-class money."
Source: PA
