Toulouse have suspended want-away midfielder Moussa Sissoko.

It is now believed that Newcastle United are close to finalising a pre-contract for the player, who they want to sign this month.

Toulouse coach Alain Casanova says everyone at the club is firmly behind the decision of chairman Olivier Sadran to suspend Sissoko.

"The whole club shows full solidarity to that chairman's decision," he 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."