Newcastle United value Moussa Sissoko at £35m

 

Newcastle United have put a £35 million price tag on France international Moussa Sissoko, according to Press Association Sport.

Sissoko, who impressed as France lost the Euro 2016 final to Portugal, has been linked with a move away from Tyneside since the club's relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season.

The 26-year-old midfielder, who joined Newcastle from Toulouse for an undisclosed fee in January 2013, has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football during his time at St James' Park.

Sissoko has already been linked with a series of clubs, including Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool and there is little doubt that he would command a sizeable fee should manager Rafael Benitez decide to cash in on him as he rebuilds his squad for life in the Championship.

However, while Andros Townsend has already left after Crystal Palace activated the £13m escape clause in his contract, Benitez is keen to retain the services of the likes of Sissoko and Georginio Wijnaldum despite their understandable desire to be playing their football at the highest possible level next season.

Newcastle also have no immediate need to sell their biggest names and even if they are ultimately persuaded to do so, owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley are not willing to sell for a cut-price figure.

Press Association Sport reports that they will seek a figure in the region of the £35m they raised from the sale of striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool in January 2011.

Benitez, meanwhile, continued his rebuilding programme on Monday when he landed 21-year-old Arsenal defender Isaac Hayden on a five-year deal, taking his tally to five summer additions following the captures of Matz Sels, Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle and Jesus Gamez.