Newcastle Looking To Tiedown Liverpool And Arsenal Target To Long-Term Deal

McClaren wants to "build a team around" Sissoko.

by Chris Waugh

Newcastle United are looking to tiedown a second senior player to a long-term deal - with Steve McClaren determined to extend Moussa Sissoko's stay on Tyneside. The Magpies head coach said earlier this week that he wanted to "build a team around" Sissoko and that he told the club's managing director Lee Charnley that Newcastle have "got to keep this guy". And now The Shields Gazette claim Newcastle will offer the 25-year-old France international a contract extension in order to keep the midfielder at St James' Park.

Fabricio Coloccini signed a new two-year deal this week, and now Sissoko is next in line for a contract upgrade in order to ward off reported interest from Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. But, speaking on BBC Newcastle earlier this week, McClaren insisted he wants to keep hold of Sissoko. The Magpies head coach said:
€œWe cannot lose Moussa, I know there€™s a lot of interest but he€™s under contract. €œOn my first day he walked into my office, a specimen of a man, an absolute presence and a great manner - very professional and low maintenance. €œI€™ve said to Lee Charnley: €˜Wow, we€™ve got to keep this guy.€™ I want to build a team around him.€
Since joining Newcastle from Toulouse for £1.5 million in January 2013, Sissoko has scored 11 goals in 94 appearances across all competitions. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCulture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.

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Contributor

NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.