Arsenal And Newcastle United Lock Horns For Pape Abou Cisse

A report from the Daily Mail claims that Newcastle United is willing to fight with Arsenal for the services of Olympiacos defender Pape Abou Cisse.

In the chase of Pape Abou Cisse, Newcastle United is preparing to leapfrog Arsenal, according to reports in The Sun. In the wake of his outstanding performances at the Africa Cup of Nations, the 26-year-old Olympiacos centre-back has established himself as a highly sought-after prospect in the market. Former Arsenal target Papiss Cisse has been linked with a move to the Premier League. But it looks that Newcastle has emerged as the front-runner after discussions with his representatives.

The Magpies are eager to complete the acquisition as soon as possible within the final days of the January transfer window. They are willing to spend up to £12m on the centre-back, with Olympiacos themselves open to the possibility of approving a prospective transfer.

He is a member of Olympiacos since early 2017. Cisse has made 119 competitive appearances for the club throughout his five-year stay in the Cypriot capital. With his exploits in European games and, most recently, in the Africa Cup of Nations, the 26-year-old has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Greek first division, impressing spectators.

Cisse has been filling in for Kalidou Koulibaly in Senegal’s defence. He has emerged as one of the top players at the African Nations Championship. Senegal finished first in their group. They qualified for the knockout rounds as a result of his services at the back. Despite his lacklustre performances, Newcastle United is considering making a bid for the defensive midfielder soon.

Who will get hold of Pape Abou Cisse – Arsenal or Newcastle United?

So far in January, the Magpies have added Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood to their ranks. But they are yet to make a move to improve their centre-back situation. The Magpies want a move for Duje Caleta-Car in recent weeks. But they have heavy competition from Tottenham Hotspur for his services. This forced Eddie Howe to look for other options in the market. The idea is to reinforce the squad. Cisse is the right candidate for the job.

Arsenal is the other team interested in the Olympiacos centre-back, as per reports. It has been a long time since the Gunners have been keeping tabs on the Senegalese international’s development. However, it should come as no surprise that they have not made a transfer yet. Mikel Arteta is content with his present central defensive options. This also includes the likes of Rob Holding.

Pape Abou Cisse’s transfer to Newcastle United could be completed within the next few days as a result of this development. As previously said, Olympiacos is not anticipated to obstruct the player’s progress. Particularly after bringing in Kostas Manolas in the summer transfer window. To finalise the deal before the transfer window closes in a little more than a week, the 26-year-old must strike an agreement with the club on personal terms and finish the paperwork.