Newcastle 'do not want to sell' Moussa Sissoko - Rafael Benitez

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez wants to keep Moussa Sissoko

Newcastle "do not want to sell" France star Moussa Sissoko, manager Rafael Benitez has insisted.

The 26-year-old midfielder, who starred for France in the Euro 2016 final, has declared he wants to leave St James' Park this summer.

Sky Sports News HQ understands the Magpies have told other clubs they will have to pay £35m to sign him this summer, but Sissoko hopes that "interested clubs will know how to find common ground" over his transfer fee.

Yet Benitez said on Tuesday: "People are talking about 'this price' or 'this price' but we don't want to sell, so we haven't put any price.

"We are pleased with him. We know he finished the season in really good form for us - I made him the captain - so I rate him really highly.

"I appreciate him too much to think that we will miss him. We know he has done really well and a lot of people will be talking about him. But we'd like to see him here and that's it.

Sissoko starred for France in the Euro 2016 final defeat to Portugal

"I'm really disappointed because France couldn't win the final but I was really pleased for Sissoko, though, because he was doing really well."

Sissoko joined Newcastle from French club Toulouse in 2013 and has made 118 Premier League appearances.