We reported that the Senegalese striker had a clause in his contract which would make him available for £6m this summer ... but St James’ Park sources have denied this.
So while United are open to the idea of selling Cisse, with clubs in Turkey, Germany and even Qatar interested, their bargaining position is stronger for the absence of a summer buy-out clause.
They will be looking for nearer the £9m they spent on the striker two years ago, which would allow them to reinvest in Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Luuk de Jong.
More alarming for Newcastle fans is that Mike Ashley wants to sell before he buys.
As with Cisse, they have a replacement in mind, but the plan was to sign Montpellier’s Remy Cabella at the end of the season.
With Montpellier threatened by relegation from Ligue 1 and French tax rules eating into their profit were a deal done earlier, it would cost Newcastle more than £14m to bring it forward.