Newcastle Transfer News: Toon "Reject" Besiktas Offer For Star Player

Do the Magpies really think they can get £10m for a 30-year-old with a dodgy knee?

Newcastle United are looking to offload Papiss Cisse this summer but reports claim they have already rejected a bid from Besiktas for the forward. The Express claim that the Turkish club have made an initial approach for Cisse but that they have not come close to matching the Magpies' valuation of the striker yet. Interestingly, Demba Ba, who netted 27 goals in 44 appearances for the Turkish side last season, is wanted by a host of Premier League clubs - with Newcastle even linked - reports in Turkey last week suggested a swap deal could be on the cards.
If Ba does return to England with West Ham United or another Premier League side, then Cisse could make the lucrative switch to Turkey. Newcastle are looking to improve their forward lineup this summer but are looking to offload Cisse €“ and have reportedly turned down offers for the Senegalese striker already. The Magpies want £10 million for a striker who has just celebrated his 30th birthday earlier and who struggled with a knee injury throughout the 2014-15 season. Despite the injury, Cisse was Newcastle€™s top scorer last season as he netted an impressive 11 goals in just 22 Premier League appearances.
However, Newcastle are drawing up a final list of striking transfer targets for this summer - with Queens Park Rangers€™ Charlie Austin, West Bromwich Albion€™s Saido Berahino, West Ham United's Diafra Sakho, Wolfsburg€™s Bas Dost and Watford€™s Troy Deeney all believed to be seen as potential recruits. With new head coach Steve McClaren given the freedom to reshape his squad this summer, it is likely that Cisse will be moved on. Since he arrived from SC Freiburg for £9.3 million in January 2012, Cisse€™s form has been patchy - with some exceptional highs and some dreadful lows. An incredible 13 goals came in his first 14 Premier League games, but just 17 strikes arrived in the following two campaigns. In 109 appearances in all for Newcastle, Cisse has scored 41 times. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow whatculture.com/NUFC on Twitter and Facebook.
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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.