Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has commented on Moussa Sissoko’s situation.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez says any potential suitors must tie up a deal for midfielder Moussa Sissoko soon as he rules out selling the player on transfer deadline day, the Mirror report.
Following the Magpies’ relegation to the Championship, the France international was one of the leading candidates tipped to leave St. James’ Park alongside Andros Townsend and Georginio Wijnaldum.
While the latter two have returned to the Premier League, Sissoko thus far remains on Tyneside with the club’s reported £35 million asking price (Daily Mail) likely to put off any potential suitor.
Now, Benitez has a new message for those keen on the player, suggesting the club will only sell for the right offer while adding a deadline day deal is out of the question.
“If somebody is thinking of waiting until the last day [of the window] it will be very difficult for them. He’s a player I like a lot. If somebody comes in with the right offer [we could sell]. If not, we keep him here,” Benitez told the Mirror.
According to the latest reports from ESPN, Real Madrid are the most likely to strike a deal for Sissoko and the player is said to be waiting on the Spanish giants to come in for his services.
The versatile 26-year-old arrived at Newcastle in early 2013, and it didn’t take him long to establish himself as a first-team regular, going on to feature over 100 times in the Premier League.
He has so far been excluded from Benitez’s squad this season, with Newcastle starting their Championship campaign in disappointing fashion as they lost their opening game 1-0 to Fulham.
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