Moussa Sissoko is determined to push through a move away from Tyneside, according to the Chronicle.
If only he had tried this hard on the pitch last season, we might not be in the Championship.
Nonetheless, he has spoken to French and Italian media outlets over the past couple of days, intent on burning bridges with the faithful.
The midfielder told Foot Mercato:
“I still hope to have the chance to join a more exclusive club. Now we are negotiating with Newcastle.
“My agent has had discussions with the club. They are open to a departure.”
And just to reiterate his position, a day later L’Equipe were informed:
“It’s simple when you are young and you start playing football, your dream is to become a professional and play for a club like Real Madrid or Manchester United.
“Today I worked my way up. Everything goes well and if a club like Real comes to me it will be something huge.”
Burn his bridges? The char is so bad that there’s no trace the bridges even existed.
His attitude is intent on forcing the move through but he had better inform whichever one of Europe’s elite – or West Bromwich Albion – that they need to get a shift on with the bidding.
It’s one of those situations where you wonder if the club will just throw their hands in the air and let him leave for £20-25m. Not ideal and nowhere near the fee they want to get but his attitude could be a seeping poison in the group.
That’s of course, the attitude both he and interested parties want the board to take. We saw last season how ineffective a demotivated Sissoko is and any more time spent at St James Park is only going to see his value diminish.
This is the one where the club should cut and run with a straight cash deal.