It's that time of year again: Jim White is dusting off his vocal chords, Harry Redknapp is practicing driving around his car-park pretending he's just "on his way home" and Newcastle fans the world over are clenching their teeth waiting for the inevitably to happen. It's only a matter of time before someone offers the right amount and the latest star player leaves Tyneside in search of Champions League football and a bigger stage, and this time that man is Moussa Sissoko.
After a fantastic first six months of the new season, The Magpies' top performer must realise that he is far too good for a bunch of mid-table no hopers and will inevitably decide he wants to leave, despite emotional Twitter messages avowing his commitment. When that happens - and it already looks to be on its way - the following three stages of tomfoolery undoubtedly unfold:
- The club paint the player to be a mercenary looking for a much bigger pay day that they are willing to give and slap a huge price tag on him.
- The club deny the player is going anywhere and make derisory offers for potential replacements, offers that are always going to be rejected but make it look like the club are 'trying'.
- The player is sold a matter of minutes before the transfer window shuts and Newcastle have no time to get a replacement 'over the line'.
Andy Carroll and Yohan Cabaye have succumbed to this fate over the last four winter windows while Demba Ba was given a ridiculously low release clause in his contract ahead of his move to Chelsea. They might all have wanted to leave, but the club didn't exactly break their backs to change their minds.
Sissoko has stepped up to the plate during the 2014/15 campaign after a year-and-a-half of utter dross, and looks set to be the next star to leave. Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have been heavily linked with the midfielder, who is contracted with Newcastle until 2019, and while he will be "prohibitively expensive", neither of those clubs would balk at having to pay £25m for such a valuable attacking asset.
To save Newcastle's Chief Scout Graham Carr some much needed time when the inevitable does happen, here are 10 players that could replace the French international when he is sold...
10. Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Rating: Potential Cost: £16 million
Despite being just 20-years-old, Çalhanoğlu is the most complete player on this list.
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The Turk, who already has five caps for his national side, has a wealth of experience in German football having represented Hamburg before signing for his current club Bayer Leverkusen last season.
Would Mike Ashley part with almost all of Sissoko's fee to replace the gaping hole left by the Frenchman? Doubtful.