Newcastle to unleash next Senegal star to rival Ba for goals
Published:Newcastle boss Alan Pardew looks set to complete a major transfer coup, by bringing Senegalese international striker Papiss Demba Cisse to the club.
Cisse, who scored 22 Bundesliga goals for Freiburg last season, and has nine to his name already this term, has been watched by Arsenal, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Sunderland as he has continued to impress in Germany.
It seems that Pardew has stolen a march on the rivals for his signature however, having had a £10m bid accepted for the hitman.
Now the 26-year-old, currently away on international duty with Newcastle hero Demba Ba, is expected to fly to Tyneside for a medical and to agree personal terms on Tuesday, before returning to Gabon and Equatorial Guinea to appear in the African Nations Cup.
A record of 33 goals in his last 51 games in the German top flight demonstrate the potency of the striker, and Newcastle will be hoping that by bringing an international teammate to the club, it will allay any fears that Ba could leave.
Ba, it has recently emerged, has a relatively low release clause in his contract that the Magpies are desperate to remain inactive, though there is no guarantee that the player would want to leave after becoming such an instant hit at Sports Direct Arena.
Indeed, Toon Army fans will be hoping that Cisse can have a similar impact on the side that his international teammate has had since his summer switch, and should the two gel quickly, the 20/1 odds for Newcastle to finish in the top four could look appealing once more.
Having the likes of Hatem Ben Arfa returning to fitness and form, and with a move for classy French international defender Aly Cissokho being mooted, Newcastle look certain to achieve their highest league position in years, with Europe a real possibility.
