Newcastle moved one step closer to completing the signing of Loic Remy after Marseille revealed they had agreed a transfer fee with the English Premier League club. The Magpies are also looking to beat out competition from Sunderland for the signature of Moussa Sissoko.
Remy has been linked with a move to St James' Park for a while now, and the signing could finally come to fruition with Remy jetting off the Newcastle to discuss personal terms.
"We have an agreement in principle with Newcastle, it is true," Labrune told the RMC Sport radio station.
"We have therefore given Loic permission to chat with them. For the rest, we must wait patiently."
Those talks are not believed to pose a problem, with Alan Pardew desperate to add a proven forward to his ranks following the departure of Demba Ba to Chelsea.
Newcastle are uncomfortably hovering just above the relegation zone, following another disappointing 0-0 draw against Norwich in the Premier League this weekend.
New signings are a must for Pardew, with his side starkly depleted due to injuries to his key players. Newcastle have already completed the signing of one French international in Mathieu Debuchy, and are now set to announce the capture of another sooner rather than later.
Marseille teammate Joey Barton, a former Newcastle player, said Newcastle would be the perfect club for Remy, who was also linked with moves to Queens Park Rangers, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal.
"Good luck to Loic in Newcastle," Barton wrote on Twitter. "Don't worry i've told him what to expect. Great guy. Perfect club for him."
Meanwhile, a third French international could be on his way to St James' Park in January, with Newcastle looking to steal the march on Sunderland for Toulouse midfielder Sissoko's signature, according to the Daily Mail.
Bitter rivals Sunderland were through to be in the driver's seat, with Sissoko set for talks with the club Monday, but Newcastle have now moved forward with their own interest over a £2.5 million ($4 million) move for the 22-year-old who is out of contract in the summer.
