Agent Hits-Out At £35m Asking Price Amid Arsenal & Tottenham Move Reports

The summer transfer window is now open for business so we’ll bring you all the latest transfer rumours and gossip from around the globe. Today, more on Moussa Sissoko’s future…

Moussa Sissoko’s agent has hit out at Newcastle United’s £35m asking price amid reports that Arsenal and Tottenham are interested in signing the French star this summer, according to the Evening Standard.

Sissoko is one of several international’s who are expected to leave Newcastle following their relegation to the Championship after the Magpies ended a hugely disappointing campaign 18th in the Premier League last season.

The 26-year-old looks set to be offered an immediate return to the top flight as the Evening Standard claim that Arsenal and Tottenham are among the clubs showing a keen interesting in signing the midfielder this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino is looking to further strengthen his squad ahead of their assault on the Champions League and the Argentinean coach has seemingly identified Sissoko as a potential new recruit after already splashing out on Vincent Janssen and Victor Wanyama.

However, Arsene Wenger is also trying to add to his squad and Sissoko could be earmarked as a potential replacement for either Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with both England international’s tipped to leave the Emirates following poor seasons.

Arsenal could consider themselves as favourites to sign Sissoko as the midfielder recently described the Gunners as a ‘beautiful club’ after confirming he wants to join a club in the Champions League [source: Evening Standard].

However, it looks like the north London duo are going to have to be prepared to dig deep as the Evening Standard claim that Newcastle are trying to demand a mammoth £35m for Sissoko’s signature this summer following his superb displays at Euro 2016.

The midfielders agent has now hit out at the club saying they had previously agreed to let the player leave for a fee in the region of £15m-£21m this summer and he hopes that Rafa Benitez and Mike Ashley are willing to be reasonable in negotiations.

Sissoko’s agent is quoted as saying by the Evening Standard:

“We do not understand. It was agreed that Moussa stayed one more season at Newcastle to help the team.”

“He did the best he could. The club has always said Moussa could leave for between €18m (£15.2m)and €25m (£21.1m) maximum.

“We hope that Rafael Benitez and the president will be more reasonable about Moussa’s future.

“He has always been loyal, he has always respected the club, the fans. There are clubs who came to us and the club [Newcastle]. We are fully aware of their approaches.

“We want everything to go well.”

We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but I don’t think there is any chance Arsenal or Tottenham will be prepared to pay £35m for Sissoko this summer so the agent is going to have to persuade Newcastle to lower the expectations.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Spurs transfer news

However, if a deal could be done for nearer £20m, I think Sissoko would prove to be a very useful signing for either of the north London giants as he’s a hugely versatile player who has the quality to make it at a Champions League level club.