Real Madrid Transfer News: Moussa Sissoko Wants Los Blancos Move, Latest Rumours

Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko has revealed he wants a move to European champions Real Madrid. 

The France international has made no secret of the fact he wants to depart Newcastle after their relegation to the Championship, previously naming "beautiful Arsenal" as his preferred destination, per Foot Mercato (via Stephen Turner of Sky Sports).

However, it seems Sissoko, 26, has changed his mind after reports emerged that Real are interested in him, and he explained why he wants out of St James' Park, per BBC Sport:

"

I hope Real will come for me, I'm still waiting. 

If Real Madrid are interested in you then of course you will be happy, but right now I am still a Newcastle player.

I spent three and a half years here [at Newcastle]. I gave everything for this club and I want to play some big games. For that I need to go somewhere else.

I want to play in the Premier League, I want to play for a big club who can get into the Champions League. That's why I said I want to leave this year.

I've spent a lot of time here and now it's time to look forward. The fans need to understand my situation, I hope they will and that everything will be OK.

"

Sissoko hardly showed consistent enough form last season for Newcastle to earn a move to a club such as Real, putting in a number of lacklustre performances and contributing to the Magpies being relegated, per football writer Chris Waugh:

However, for France at UEFA Euro 2016, he was excellent playing on the right side of midfield.

While Les Bleus lost the final in extra-time to Portugal, Sissoko was a dominant force in the first half, contributing both in attack and defence, per WhoScored.com:

He proved he can perform on the biggest stage, and reports then emerged of Real's interest, which they were expected to "firm up" once Manchester United signed Paul Pogba, per Luke Edwards of the Daily Telegraph.

Per Edwards, Los Blancos believe they will be able to sign Sissoko for £30 million—Newcastle raised their asking price from £22 million after Euro 2016—and there is little doubt now he would be open to the move.

Real were in the frame to sign Juventus' Pogba right up until United confirmed they had bought back their former player for £89 million, per Richard Tanner of the Daily Express.

Sissoko would be an adequate alternative to Pogba as he has a similar skill set, but Real will have to be confident they can draw some consistency out of the former Toulouse man.

He is not necessarily the type of midfielder Real manager Zinedine Zidane needs to add to his squad, as the Frenchman could actually do with a more defence-minded player to cover for Casemiro, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

However, Sissoko would add further quality and depth to Real's engine room while also being a much cheaper alternative to Pogba.