Newcastle eye January deal for £13m-rated Ligue 1 midfielder

Newcastle have identified Strasbourg midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko as a top transfer target for the January transfer window, claims The Sun.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce wants to bolster his midfield options for the second half of the season to boost the club's survival bid.

Bruce accepts there will not be a lot of money available to spend in the new year but is hopeful of concluding a deal for Strasbourg's £13m-rated midfielder.

Sissoko, who is 6ft 4in, has been a first-team regular for Strasbourg since joining from Brest in the summer of 2018 and Newcastle are in advanced talks to sign the 22-year-old.

Bruce has been relying on the Longstaff brothers in recent weeks, though now Sean is suspended for three matches after his red card against Wolves last weekend.

Neither Jonjo Shelvey nor Ki Sung-yueng are in favour under Bruce and Sissoko would help add steel to his midfield options.

Newcastle have already proved tough to break down in the league this season, conceding more than once in only three games.

Sissoko, however, hasn't made an overly impressive start to the season in Ligue 1, garnering a WhoScored rating of just 6.39.