Free falling Newcastle will again be looking to bolster their squad from across the channel. The Magpies already have six Frenchmen in their squad, and are now looking to bolster their Gaelic contingent even more as they go on the look-out for talents on the cheap from Ligue 1.
The Toons seems undeterred after narrowly missing out on Loic Remy to QPR after having agreed a transfer fee with Marseille. Newcastle have gone out to reach for the talented Montpellier skipper and French international defender, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, in recent days. The centre-back is due on Tyneside tomorrow after having agreed to personal terms on a €7.5M move to Newcastle with a 4 and a half year contract.
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However, the problems upfront, with Ba’s departure and Cisse’s lacklustre form meant that Newcastle again went to the French territories to seek re-enforcements, and have reportedly put in a bid of €750,000 for striker/winger Yoan Gouffran, who has netted 22 times in the past one and a half seasons for Bordeaux. Gouffran’s contract expires in June, and Bordeaux are holding out for €1million.
That doesn’t seem to be the end of it all, as leading media sources are reporting that the club is also shopping for Bastia’s talented teenager Florian Thauvin and Nancy’s left -back Massadio Haidara, with Newcastle reportedly having lodged €3.5M and €2.5M bids for the players respectively.
However, the coup of the French transfer market may lie in the form of Moussa Sissoko, whose representatives will meet Newcastle officials on Wednesday to decide upon a possible transfer. Sissoko was dubbed as the next Makelele of French football, but never quite lived up to his reputation, and now has only a few months left on his contract at Toulouse.
The Magpies may not have had any successes in January since snapping up Mathieu Debuchy early in the transfer window, but the sound of things to come may provide some comfort to the desolate Toon Army, who have seen their side lose 11 of their previous 13 games.
