Arsenal
Arsenal Are The Club Of His Heart, But €20m Midfielder Could Be Off To Chelsea
Chelsea could be set to turn their attention to Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko but the Frenchman has previously said Arsenal are the team of his heart.
With the January transfer window in full swing, managers are strengthening their squads ahead of the second half of the season, so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip. Today, Chelsea are linked with Moussa Sissoko….
Chelsea could be set to turn their attention to Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko after growing increasingly frustrated in their attempts to sign Juan Cuadrado and Douglas Costa, according to reports.
The Blues are believed to be on the look-out for a versatile attacker with both Mohamed Salah and Andre Schurrle tipped to leave Stamford Bridge this month. The duo have been on the fringes of Jose Mourinho’s first team all season and reports suggest Salah is set for a loan move to Roma while Wolfsburg have been strongly linked with Schurrle.
Costa and Cuadrado have been touted as potential replacement but Goal.com claim the West Londoners are now being forced to look elsewhere after seeing their bids come up short, with Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk both demanding in excess of £22m for the attackers.
The report suggests that Mourinho remains hopeful he’ll be able to do a deal for one of his top two targets, but he’s also mindful of the fact that there’s less than a week left of the January window, so he’s now turned his attention to Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko.
However, the Blues may have a tough time persuading the French international to move to Stamford Bridge as he’s previously been linked with Arsenal and told reporters earlier this month that the Gunners hold a special place in his heart.
Amid intense speculation that the North Londoners were set to bid for him, Sissoko said:
“If Wenger calls me, I’ll have a man-to-man talk with him and we’ll see what happens. Arsenal have always been the club of my heart.”
“The transfer window is open, so things can happen. It’s not doing my head in too much. I’m still focused on Newcastle. If something happens or something doesn’t happen, so be it. I hope to sign for a big club one day but I don’t know when. Staying in England is my priority.” Sissoko is quoted as saying by the Guardian
Sissoko has been in excellent form for Newcastle since joining the club from Toulouse two years but with owner Mike Ashley open to selling his key players at the right price, it’s been suggested that €20m (£15m) would be enough to prize him away from St James’ Park this month.
It remains to be seen whether Arsenal’s supposed interest will come to anything as Arsene Wenger’s need for midfield reinforcements has diminished following the emergence of Francis Coquelin, while Jack Wilshere is also on his way back to full fitness.
READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news
This could pave the way for Chelsea to snap-up the versatile Frenchman and he’d prove to be a cost-effective alternative to the likes of Cuadrado and Costa if the West Londoners decided to push ahead with a deal.
Sissoko can play in any of the midfield or attacking positions and is a hard worker, so he’d fit into Mourinho’s ethos, while he’d also be eligible to play in the Champions League – which is something that is sure to appeal to the Portuguese coach.
