The Italian news outlet Calciomercato is reporting today that Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez is considering a shock move in the summer transfer window to try to bring back Moussa Sissoko to Newcastle United.
That’s after we sold Moussa to Tottenham Hotspur on the last day of last summer’s transfer window for a massive £30M – much more than Moussa was ever worth.
Newcastle fans were letting their Spurs counterparts know he wasn’t worth that much and Spurs fans seemed to fully agree.
Moussa Sissoko – a return to Newcastle?
It turned out to be one of the best deals Newcastle have ever made in the transfer market in modern times.
Tottenham are again doing very well under expert young manager Mauricio Pochettino – and they are only 4 points behind leaders Chelsea with five games to play.
This is what Pochettino had said earlier this season about Moussa:
““Moussa Sissoko has struggled at Tottenham”
“He has failed to live up to expectations” “Football is not about money.”
“You need to show on the training ground you are better than another team-mate and you deserve to be involved.”
What to make of the this story from Italy?
It could be untrue and probably is.
But if Rafa can get Moussa back for say £15M then it could be a good deal and we would support Rafa in doing that.
In fact we’ll support him in whatever he does to make Newcastle great again.
🙂
And Moussa has the solid Premier League experience Rafa will be looking for this summer.
We also expect winger Andros Townsend to rejoin Newcastle from Crystal Palace and he seems to be enjoying his football in London.
But that’s probably only because he knows for certain he will soon be playing for Rafa again.
🙂
We can execute that £13M release clause in his contract and he would walk to Newcastle to play for Mr. Benitez again.
In the 10 weeks or so Rafa managed Moussa Sissoko last season he made him captain and Sissoko gave some excellent performances for us, including that barnstorming stellar performance in the second half in the 5-1 demolition of Spurs last season.
In that game, Moussa looked the player he has promised to be all his career, but never fulfilled that enormous promise.
And after a terrific display for France in the Euros last summer (Newcastle fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing) he’s gone hopelessly backwards in north London, so it would depend on what Spurs value him at.
He has no future at Spurs.
But one big problem is our fans have never taken to Moussa, who seems to be tone-deaf about how self-centered he comes across in interviews – but Rafa likes the man and rates him too.
We’d still be surprised if this is a deal Rafa makes this summer, but we can understand Rafa’s logic.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
59 comments so far
catchy in norway
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:12 AM
Comment #1scary thought, 41% think Sturridge would be a good signing. for who? our physios?
these are the type of fan who plays championship manager who have no clue about real world football.
HE is exactly the type of player NUFC should be staying away from, Gangster rapper wanabees, who care more about social media than a football career.
but really think about it, this guy is loooking for another muppet manager to sign him on and give him 100K weekly for nothing in return, dont we have Rolando for that job, talented but injured.
JamesToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:16 AM
Comment #2Catchy
What striker would you go for?? And I agree about sturridge
JamesToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:17 AM
Comment #3I mean I’d take him in a cut price 10mil deal or something as he is a proven goakscorer when fit but Liverpool will want 15+ which there is no point
tonynufc
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:22 AM
Comment #4Don’t think he wud wanna come back. He’s stated so may times that he wants champ league football and he knows he’s favoured by a lot us. He’d rather be bench warmer for top 4 team than come back to us. Who may take a few years to get back to our best.
Ron Knee
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:22 AM
Comment #5RIP Leo Baxendale, creator of Minnie the Minx, etc.
WWSBRD
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:27 AM
Comment #6Tbf Sturisge is a better than 1 in 3 striker, current international and played his entire career in the PL plus he will be available pretty daft to ignore that
catchy in norway
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:27 AM
Comment #7Yes i voted yes, because i think he is ten times the player Diame is. and just maybe he has gotten i should be in a CL club out of his system, as he wasnt good enough
tonynufc
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:27 AM
Comment #8I ment he’s not favoured. Oops
MikeAshleysWallet
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:28 AM
Comment #9I had to check it wasn’t April 1st when I saw this post.
Sissoko is not what we need in our first season back – we need a team of grafters with a little sprinkling of creativity thrown into the mix.
Sissoko doesn’t fall into either category.
Total non story for me.
magspuggy
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:30 AM
Comment #10Sissoko No.
Townsend ?
One left to follow his dream @ a big club .
The other could still be here if he wanted to be.
Hwtl
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:30 AM
Comment #11Jesus Christ, of course we shouldn’t sign Sissoko.
ShirebrookToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:32 AM
Comment #12No way should we have sulko back. There’s younger and better talent out there for less money.
AncientC
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:32 AM
Comment #13Why would Palace have inserted a release clause in Townsend’s contract for the exact same amount of money they paid for him. I highly doubt Townsend has any release clause, unless it’s a relegation clause.
toontaff2
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Comment #14Santon, Sissulko and Townsend.
Just need links for Saylor, Big Willo, Captain Collo , Tiote, Cisse and of course, Alan Judge and Charlie Austin!
Why not Alan Pardew as well……………….
clinath@ed
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Comment #15hahahahahahahahaha
WWSBRD
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:34 AM
Comment #16Also no chance Sissoko would come back for so many reasons
ShirebrookToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:34 AM
Comment #17Julian Brandy is the type of winger we should be looking to sign
ShirebrookToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:36 AM
Comment #18Raylor and shola will be next ones coming back
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:36 AM
Comment #19Oh and Santon too, pea-sized heart. His performance in one particular derby defeat was one of the most disgracefully careless performances I’ve seen from a Newcastle player, way beyond anything even Sissoko dished up. Visibly didn’t give a crap and didn’t have the gumption to try and hide it.
ShirebrookToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:36 AM
Comment #20Julian Brandt fcuking predictive text!!!
U.S Magpie
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:37 AM
Comment #21How can I put this without sounding to tongue in cheek.
Sorry I cant, if anyone thinks this story is true please run towards a brick wall very, very, very, fast and hopefully the impact will bring you back to reality. Thank god some have already stated that this is the dumbest thing ever to be written this year.
toontaff2
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:37 AM
Comment #221 in 6 want Sissulko back – 😮
ShirebrookToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:37 AM
Comment #23Must be mackems voting on this blog
magspuggy
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:38 AM
Comment #24No.no. no. Let him follow his dreams i would hate to spoil it forvhim @ the big club he dreamed of.
Townsend meh
Could still be here if he wanted to be imho.
catchy in norway
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:39 AM
Comment #25James
now that depends on the type of football Rafa wants to play, as i do not understand his logic right now.
we set the team up to have a fox in the box type of player, someone who will run, and dont have cover for him when he is injured but expect the 2 we have as cover to play this way. dosnt and hasnt worked. both Mitro and Murphy need good wingers who cross, our wingers cut in and shoot
If he intends to continue this way, I wouldnt mind giving Arma a shot, he seems to me to have all those skills, other than him
DubaiMicky
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:40 AM
Comment #26More clickbait, regurgitating a non-story.
I always thought if you have nothing to say it’s best to say nothing.
The next Mike Williamson
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #27At least Diame has had periods in his life where he’s done well. I think he’s been shocking but a guy with his touch shouldn’t be playing number 10, especially not when teams are packing the box against us.In the EPL he will get more space as teams attack us more, then his thunder touch won’t be as much of a problem.
toontaff2
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:41 AM
Comment #28RAFA BINGO:
Elliott
Sterry Mbemba Clark Dummett
Hayden Shelvey
Atsu Perez Gouffy
Mitro
1-5 the Toon 😆
Watching for WelshBluebird9 in the home section, on Sky!
ShirebrookToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:42 AM
Comment #29Lmao toontaff,
Right on cue with the 5-1 prediction lol
toontaff2
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:43 AM
Comment #30Only 2 more opportunities!
ShirebrookToon
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:44 AM
Comment #318 hrs til kick off
The next Mike Williamson
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:45 AM
Comment #32I think Perez and Mbemba are better suited to the premier league too. Mbemba seems to shine when we are under pressure. Maybe his concentration switches off when we’re not defending as much. He is still very young. Dummet will look a bit better too, because he won’t be asked to get forward as much (so he won’t be exposed as possibly the worst attacking fullback i’ve ever seen – yet his defensive qualities are really good.)
magspuggy
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Comment #33Catchy.
Likewise.
Armstrong should be coming home.
I would love to see him come good for us and we have the manager to achive it
magspuggy
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Comment #34Catchy.
Likewise.
Armstrong should be coming home.
I would love to see him come good for us and we have the manager to achive it
Mister Tuff
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:54 AM
Comment #35Townsend and/or Sulk back to the Toon – never happen in a million years. Thank God.
Sturridge – no thanks – not a bad player but a sicknote – as catchy says -dodgy acquaintances. Plus crap goal celebration dance – worst and most embarrassing I’ve seen -ever.
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 28, 2017 at 11:57 AM
Comment #36Rafa won’t sign a crock like Sturridge, especially not for circa £15m.
Defoe would get just as many goals, add experience, maturity and be available on a free meaning funds could be allocated elsewhere. He’s also the perfect model for Armstrong to learn from. Seems a no-brainer to me. Scored 14 PL goals in a toxic, awful Sunderland team. Just depends if he’s set on returning to West Ham.
That’s my case for Defoe, though I know some think he’s over the hill, despite his stats this season suggesting otherwise and his proclamation that he’s more determined than eve to be at the WC, his final big tournament chance.
clinath@ed
Apr 28, 2017 at 12:06 PM
Comment #37Spurs fans must be voting
Hail Wor Ashley
Apr 28, 2017 at 12:12 PM
Comment #38I’d also be in for Charlie Taylor, though would we have to pay any compensation? If not it’d be another shrewd buy.
From what I’ve seen he has the grit and defensive ability of Dummett with a bit more natural attacking aptitude, though Dummett has improved in that respect.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 28, 2017 at 12:14 PM
Comment #39Lol at this transfer link. Spurs won’t let him go for half of what they paid. I’m curious though as most people tend to be against sissoko coming back but in January quite a lot were in favour of Townsend coming back. For me there isn’t much difference between the two other than sissoko talked about leaving frequently but who can blame him being under Pardew, carver and then mcclaren, style of football and constant defeats. Both played well under Benitez in the run in last season.
ronaldo aarons
Apr 28, 2017 at 12:17 PM
Comment #40Hail
I’m not sold on Taylor. Saw him more than a few times caught out of position. He’s better attacking than dummett but not near as good defensively whereas dummett is much better defensively but attacking wise is poor. I’ll agree through that he is improving and trying. The big thing for me is dummett has played in the premier league and defensively he was not out of place. Cant say the same for Taylor and feel he’ll get exposed.