Although manager Alan Pardew had a £10million bid rejected, he will come back with a higher offer.
Pardew switched his attention to the Senegal striker after being held up in his bid to sign Sochaux’s Modibo Maiga, with the French club insisting on finding a replacement before they allow the Mali international to leave.
Cisse, 26, had been a target for Sunderland until they concentrated on Spurs’ Peter Crouch.
Newcastle fans wants to see a top striker in their No 9 shirt and Cisse has scored 31 goals in 52 games.
Should the deal hit problems, Pardew has lined up a £5m move for Marvin Ogunjimi. The Genk forward has also interested Fulham, but they were closing on a loan deal for Marseille’s Andre Pierre Gignac and a £10.6m deal for FC Twente’s Bryan Ruiz.