Newcastle defender Sebastien Bassong desperate to leave for Tottenham or Manchester City
Published 00:00 04/08/09 By By Darren Lewis
Frustrated Newcastle star Sebastien Bassong is ready to hand in a transfer request in order to get a move to Tottenham or Manchester City.
The defender would ideally want an Arsenal switch - and has previously claimed that Gunners boss Arsenal Wenger would like to sign him.
However it is Spurs and City who are involved in a straight fight for his services.
Bassong is concerned that Newcastle's decision to reject a £10million bid from Spurs could scare both clubs off a player who has had just one season in the Premier League.
The 23-year-old is well aware that White Hart Lane chief Harry Redknapp is a huge admirer of his talents.
The Frenchman's form on the field was one of the few positives to come out of Toon's disastrous campaign which ended in the drop.
Bassong was signed for just £500,000 by the Magpies from French club Metz last summer.
But, since their relegation, he has fallen foul of team-mates after unashamedly declaring he is desperate to go. And after a dismal pre-season - that has included a 6-1 thrashing by League One's Leyton Orient - Bassong is not alone.
Habib Beye has put in a transfer request to force a move to Hull, while Argentina defender Fabrizio Coloccini is also keen to leave.
