Rafa Benitez ready to fight to keep Moussa Sissoko

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has told Euro 2016 star Moussa Sissoko he does not want to lose him as he plots a path back to the Premier League.

Benitez has been keen since accepting the challenge of leading the Magpies out of the Championship to keep the man he appointed captain on board despite the 26-year-old France international’s repeated calls to be allowed to leave the club.

Interest has grown in Sissoko as a result of his performance for his country, which saw them miss out on glory after a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Portugal in Sunday night’s final, prompting Newcastle to attempt to ward off potential suitors with a £35m (€42m) price tag.

However, speaking from the club’s pre-season training camp at Carton House in Kildare, Benitez said: “I’m really disappointed because (France) couldn’t win the final. I was really pleased for (Sissoko) though, because he was doing really well. I rate him really highly.

“People are talking about ‘this price’ or ‘this price’ — but we don’t want to sell, so we haven’t put any price (on him) and we are pleased, we are happy with him. We’d like to see him here and that’s it.”

Despite Benitez’s insistence that Sissoko is not for sale, Newcastle have warned buyers — Arsenal, Manchester United, Paris St Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus among others have been credited with an interest in him — that they will not get him on the cheap, if at all.

That has not gone down particularly well with the player’s camp, and he reiterated his desire to leave the club yesterday.

Sissoko told L’Equipe: “For me, it changes nothing. The interested clubs will know how to find common ground. I hope that it will be as early as possible.”

In other transfer news, Vincent Janssen cited Mauricio Pochettino and Champions League football for his eagerness to move to Tottenham.

Yesterday, the 22-year-old Netherlands striker signed a four-year contract until 2020 after moving from AZ Alkmaar.

Janssen finished top scorer in the Eredivisie last season with 27 goals in 34 appearances and helped AZ secure a place in the division’s top four.

Spurs will pay an initial £17m (€20.4m) for Janssen but the fee could rise to £18.5m (€22.1m).

“One of the reasons I chose Tottenham (is) the way (Pochettino) thinks and how he plays. I really like that,” Janssen said.

“It’s always a dream for me to play Champions League and now it’s coming very close.”

Meanwhile, Ireland midfielder Glenn Whelan has penned a one-year contract extension, Stoke have announced.

Elsewhere, Chelsea midfielder Willian has signed a new four-year contract while England left-back Ryan Bertrand has signed a new five-year contract with Southampton.

West Ham have signed England U20 international Ashley Fletcher from Premier League rivals Manchester United.