Paris (AFP) – French midfielder Moussa Sissoko, a standout at Euro 2016, left a national team training camp on Wednesday to finalise a last-minute transfer from Newcastle United, the French Football Federation said.
Just hours from the closure of the transfer window, Sissoko was given permission to quit the French international squad preparing for a friendly match in Italy so he can pursue the transfer talks, the federation said on its website.
No indication was given of where Sissoko could move however.
He is wanted by a string of clubs. Newcastle have already reportedly rejected a £16 million (18.8 million euros/$21 million) bid by Tottenham.
Inter Milan, Everton and West Bromwich are also in the hunt according to the French sports newspaper L’Equipe. The final fee was expected to be at least £30 million.
The French squad fly to Italy on Wednesday ahead of a friendly international on Thursday.
The 27-year-old “has been given permission by (coach) Didier Deschamps to leave Clairefontaine (training centre) at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) to finalise his transfer,” the federation said on its website.
Sissoko, capped 44 times for France, has been with Newcastle since January 2013 but has wanted to leave following the club’s relegation last season.
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