MOUSSA SISSOKO has admitted he is flattered by interest from Real Madrid as he looks to leave Newcastle United this summer.
The Magpies are willing to let Sissoko go but have slapped a £35m price-tag on his head after an impressive Euros for France.
Real do not want to pay that sort of fee and are understood to be willing to let youth players Marcos Llorente and Mariano Diaz head to Tyneside in a bid to get the price down.
Manchester United, Paris St Germain and Juventus are among a long list of clubs keen on Sissoko, but so far Newcastle claim they have not had an official offer for his services.
Sissoko told L’Equipe: “That’s flattering. Who would not be flattered by the interest of one of the best clubs in the world, if not the best?
“It’s simple when you are young and you start playing football, your dream is to become a professional and play for a club like Real Madrid or Manchester United.
“Today I worked my way up. Everything goes well and if a club like Real comes to me it will be something huge.”
Newcastle, meanwhile, are rubbishing claims they are looking to sell Aleksandar Mitrovic before the end of the month. Benitez sees him as part of his plans to push for promotion to the Championship.
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