Newcastle United are close to signing three highly rated teenagers but are concerned that Moussa Sissoko is seeking a move away from the club.
David Concha and Jorge Meré, two Spaniards, and the MK Dons midfielder Dele Alli look set for moves to Tyneside before next week’s transfer deadline – although they will almost certainly be loaned back to their current clubs for the remainder of the season.
While the 17-year-old Meré is a centre-half at Sporting Gijón, Concha, a year older, is a striker with Racing Santander. Alli, meanwhile, has impressed in League One and has been watched by a number of Premier League clubs, most notably Liverpool.
John Carver, Newcastle’s interim head coach, will probably be less concerned with their future potential than clinging onto Sissoko, the team’s best midfielder, this month. In an interview with Foot Mercato in his native France, Sissoko reiterated a long held desire to “play for a very big club”.
In comments unlikely to be well received at St James’ Park, Sissoko said: “Everybody knows my agent. So if there is something, they will call him directly.
“I don’t tell myself that I absolutely want to leave or not. If it is going to happen, then it will. I am good at Newcastle. I continue to work hard so that I have the opportunity one day to play for a very big club. I want to stay in the Premier league and play for one of the big clubs in England. You never know what might happen tomorrow, but I would prefer to stay in the Premier League.
“Will Newcastle be willing to let me leave? There are a lot of things that enter the equation. My aim is to play for the biggest clubs. After that, it doesn’t just depend on me. The interested club needs to speak to Newcastle, with my agent, so that everyone can reach an agreement.”
If so, it seems any buyer will have to pay a high price for Sissoko. “I would say we’re very difficult sellers,” said Lee Charnley, Newcastle’s managing director, last week. “We make it very difficult for people to get our players. I can’t envisage any player we want to retain leaving this month.”
Meanwhile Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa has completed a £5.5m switch from Newcastle to Roma. The centre half has been at the Serie A club on loan since August.
