Papiss Demba Cisse Having Medical At Newcastle United Today

Update: Sky Sports News reports that a £10 million deal has been agreed between Newcastle United and Freiburg for the striker. Personal terms/medical only in the way of the deal going through. Despite Alan Pardew claiming a few weeks back that no strikers would be added to his squad in January, reports from Tyneside this afternoon are that Freiburg forward Papiss Demba Cisse is undergoing a medical at Newcastle United. 26 year-old Cisse, a previous summer target for Newcastle, is the Senegalese international team mate of Magpies goal machine Demba Ba who has been a revelation in the North East this season. In the Bundesliga he has scored an impressive 37 goals in 65 appearances, netting nine times this season which has done nothing but further enhance Newcastle's interest. Obviously the desire to field the two Demba's (Ba & Cisse) for club as well as country has Alan Pardew salivating at the mouth as he tries to guide his club back into Europe. Demba Ba is current away for the next month on African Cup of Nations duty with Senegal and Papiss Demba Cisse will reportedly join him when he flys back to Africa later today. This is perhaps why a medical has been fast tracked before a transfer deal has been fully reached, although that is just been presuming. Though Freiburg clearly have intent to sell by letting the player undergo a medical so it's just personal terms Newcastle need to strike with the player. Relegation threated Freiburg bought Cologne striker Sebastien Frei on Tuesday, presumably as Cisse's replacement. This is Newcastle's second big play for a new number 9 after their months long effort to acquire Sochaux and Mali international forward Modibo Maiga broke down over the player's failure to pass a medical. That move was touted in the 6 million plus range with Demba Cisse said to be a more expensive option, somewhere between 8 and 10 million. Sadly for Newcastle fans they won't be able to see the two Ba's fielded again perhaps until late February but if the new Ba is anything like the old one, boy is it going to be exciting times up at St. James's Park as we embark on the second half of the season. A bit of what Newcastle fans have to look forward too... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foiV2j1KTwQ