Newcastle wantaway Moussa Sissoko admits it would be difficult to reject Real Madrid move

Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko has admitted that he would struggle to say no to a move to Real Madrid after declaring that he is ready to make a step forward to one of the European giants. Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint Germain, Arsenal and Everton have been linked with his services during the summer transfer window, but the Frenchman has suggested that working under his compatriot Zinedine Zidane would be an amazing opportunity that he could not turn down.

The 26-year-old has been tipped to leave Rafa Benitez's side through the summer following the relegation to the Championship. The Telegraph reported last month that Sissoko had emerged as a surprising candidate for the Champions League winners, after Zidane had identified him as the affordable alternative to Paul Pogba. The report added that Los Blancos were expected to launch a bid for the Newcastle midfielder as soon as Manchester United confirm that they have beat them for the Juventus star.

The Guardian later claimed that Newcastle had put a £35m ($45.74m, €41.26m) price tag to part ways with the midfielder, but Real Madrid were ready to offer Benitez two promising starlets like Mariano Diaz and Marcos Llorente to sweat the deal.

The former Real Madrid manager admitted earlier this week that the midfielder may leave the club during the current transfer window should a good offer arrives – having already signed Mohamed Diame from Hull to fill his gap.

"We will try to do the best for us. If he has to go because we have the right offer, fine. If he stays with us, fantastic. We are doing what we have to do to protect Newcastle United and to help Moussa Sissoko, the professional," Benitez said as quoted by the BBC. "If he goes because we have the right offer, it has to be good for the club too. Sometimes it is worse to keep players if they are not happy."

Sissoko himself has now confirmed that following his impressive Euro 2016 campaign he is ready to give a step forward in his career, admitting that the Real Madrid option would be an amazing one.

"I was waiting for my time and it may be arriving," the midfielder said to L'Equipe. "I feel ready to go to one of the big ones."

"It's flattering," he responded when asked about the interest of clubs likes Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. "Who would not be flattered by the interest of one the best clubs in the world, if not the best? Rejecting Real (Madrid) is difficult. Working under Zinedine Zidane could be something fantastic. "