After so many false starts and shattered dreams, Moussa Sissoko is set to leave St James Park according to The Shields Gazette.
The usual proviso applies; the story contains the dreaded phrase, “club ready bid”, which normally sounds the klaxons but in this case, everyone hopes it will go through.
Having made it clear the Championship was beneath him, Sissoko has been snubbed by his two preferred destinations – Arsenal and Real Madrid – whilst others such as Liverpool, Dortmund, Everton and Juventus, have been put off by the £35m fee Newcastle require, his personal demands or the agent talk which placed them in the frame in the first place.
This time something concrete may come, with so far only West Bromwich Albion placing a bid for Moussa. Crystal Palace’s interest never amounted to anything and recent weeks have seen Rafa Benitez apply diplomacy to talk about Sissoko’s future.
He may yet play a role in this season’s promotion push but how much remains to be seen.