Yohan Cabaye was set to sign for Aston Villa and was "looking forward to joining" - only for a twist of fate to send the Frenchman to Newcastle United .
That's the view of former Villa manager Gerard Houllier, who has revealed the Lille midfielder had been shown around Villa Park for a potential summer move ahead of the 2011/12 season.
The talented playmaker was one of several recruits earmarked as the former Liverpool boss aimed to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited from Martin O'Neill.
But Houllier's stint at Villa Park was brought to a premature conclusion when he was hospitalised in April 2011, and left the club by mutual consent in June.
Cabaye signed a five-year-deal on Tyneside that same month, and played a key role in the side Alan Pardew guided to an impressive 5th-placed finish.
Speaking to the Athletic , Houllier said: "We showed [Cabaye] around Villa Park and he was looking forward to joining. He would have improved the team so much.
"I had a plan with Macca [Gary McAllister]. If my health had been fine, I would have stayed on as manager and helped develop the talented, young playes that we had coming through.
"With my health not fine, I said I will stay in the shadows and help Macca, but that wasn't to be.
"It could have been a very different outcome in the end because the club has everything in place - the history, the fan base, the stadium, the training ground, and it used to have the players."
Houllier named Cabaye as one of four potential signings he had lined up at Villa Park.
Gary Cahill was set to return to the club, while deals for Gervinho and Charlie Adam were also in the pipeline.
