Papiss Cisse is the latest key player looking to leave St James’ Park.
Newcastle United have told Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala that they will need to improve their £15m offer if they want to sign striker Papiss Cisse, reports the Daily Express.
Super rich Anzhi will have to up their bid to over £20m if the Magpies are to be tempted into selling the Senegalese hit-man, although with Demba Ba leaving the club in January it would leave the north-east side lacking up-front.
Cisse came to the attention of the Russian side after his injury time goal sealed their departure from the Europa League this season.
The 27-year-old signed for Newcastle in January 2012 from Bundesliga side Freiburg and made an immediate impact at St James’ Park, scoring 13 Premier League goals in as many starts including a brace against Chelsea to seal an unlikely win at Stamford Bridge.
However, 2012/13 proved not to be quite so successful for the Senegal international as both Cisse and the club struggled to emulate their form from the previous campaign and the striker netted just eight times in 36 league games.
Yet it was the forward’s European form that caught the eye of Anzhi and his strike against the Russian side was one of four in the Europa League.
In a bid to tempt Cisse to swap England for Russia the Dagestan-based club are prepared to offer him an improved wage from his current deal, thought to be in the region of £50,000-a-week.
With four years remaining on the striker’s contract owner Mike Ashley will drive a hard bargain with Anzhi for his star’s signature.
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