Would Moussa Sissoko be a good signing for Spurs or Liverpool?

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Newcastle United’s relegation from the Premier League has naturally meant that transfer rumours have been swirling around some of their more prized talent. The Magpies proved under Rafael Benitez that their squad was more than capable of surviving and thriving in the top tier, but their season was irreparably damaged by Steve McLaren’s doomed reign.

One of the names most heavily linked with a move away from St. James’ Park is Moussa Sissoko, the French attacking midfielder. Sissoko has put a disappointing season with Newcastle behind him at the European Championships, putting in a wonderful display down the right hand side of midfield as the host nation reached the final.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are the two Premier League clubs most heavily interested in the Frenchman, as well as German giants Borussia Dortmund, but where would the best destination be for the 26-year-old?

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Firstly, Sissoko would undoubtedly fit into the system of both sides. Liverpool and Tottenham under Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino are both famed for their high intensity, pressing football, which would suit Sissoko down to a tee. His performances for France at the European Championships have shown that the Newcastle man is full of energy, can be lethal on the counter attack, and is not afraid to put defenders under pressure.

He was exemplary for France in their semi-final win over Germany, perhaps second only to Antoine Griezmann, and fans of Liverpool and Spurs would love to see more of the same if Sissoko were to join their side.

However, Sissoko’s form for Newcastle over the last season was far from brilliant. Throughout the time at the club, he has mixed in stunning displays with bang average form. Too often, he has followed an excellent display with four or five weeks of nothingness. That won’t cut it at sides fighting for Champions League football. Without playing as well as he did for France against Germany on a consistent basis, he’d get his own personal seat on the bench.

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So, where would suit Sissoko better? Liverpool have a number of attacking midfielders at their disposal, with Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane, Lazar Markovic and maybe even James Milner fighting over three spots in the team.

Sissoko would certainly add depth and competition, and his energy would allow more space for the likes of Firmino and Coutinho to work their magic, but it is likely that he would spend a lot of time on the side-lines, especially with Liverpool’s reduced number of fixtures with no European football in 2016/17.

Spurs perhaps have fewer options in this area, with Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Dele Alli, Son Heung-Min and Nacer Chadli being the main options in this area. Sissoko would certainly bring something different to the Spurs team, as he provides so much intensity which could seriously add to Pochettino’s team. He may not be a sure starter, but with the extra fixtures in the Champions League, he could be of more use at White Hart Lane.

Newcastle are reportedly asking for over £20 million for Sissoko, which would be too much for either side to pay, but for around £12 million he could be a shrewd investment. Tottenham would perhaps be the better fit, but he could bring a lot to either side as a squad player.

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