The proposed transfer of Moussa Sissoko to Newcastle appears to have turned ugly amid reports the midfielder has been suspended by his current club Toulouse.
The French international is out of contract in the summer but is determined to secure a move away this month.
However, Toulouse are holding out for a fee of £2.5m that Newcastle are yet to meet, which has angered the player and led to a souring of his relationship with his current club.
Chairman Olivier Sadran made the decision to suspend the 22-year-old.
"The whole club shows full solidarity to that chairman's decision," Toulouse coach Alain Casanova told L'Equipe.
"It is really a shame a player educated at the club could leave as free agent. His absence is big loss for the team, but that decision is logical."
It's understood Sissoko was in the north east yesterday to undergo a medical and it appears likely a deal will be agreed soon.
Sissoko will become just the latest Frenchman to head to St James' Park as part of Newcastle's recruitment drive.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa signed from Montpellier for £6.7m last night while Mathieu Debuchy joined from Lille earlier in the window.
French left back Massadio Haidera is expected to join from Nancy while Yoan Gouffran is set to bolster Newcastle's depleted attack after the Magpies held further talks with Bordeaux over the 26-year-old who has six months left on his current contract.
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