English Premier League strugglers Newcastle have agreed a fee with reigning French champions Montpellier to sign France international defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, the French club has announced.

Central African Republic-born Yanga-Mbiwa, 23, “has reached agreement with the English club Newcastle” and will sign pending the outcome of a medical, Montpellier said without disclosing the size of any transfer fee.

“I’ve been waiting for this. (England) is a country where everyone likes football, everyone lives for football – I really want to discover this culture,” Yanga-Mbiwa said in an interview with Montpellier’s website.

Yanga-Mbiwa extended his Montpellier contract in last year by two years through to 2015 on the understanding the club would not stand in his way if an acceptable offer were made for his services.

Arsenal and AC Milan were also reportedly interested in the defender, who made his France debut last season.

Newcastle have also agreed a deal with Nancy for 20-year-old defender Massadio Haidara, the French top flight outfit said on their website earlier on Tuesday.

Nancy said agreement had been reached on a 4 million euro ($A5.1 million) deal for a player who has made 46 appearances for Nancy since a December 2010 debut against Sochaux.

The club added Haidara was heading to Newcastle for a medical.

Media in Newcastle also revealed the club are bidding to add Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko to their squad as they bid to haul themselves away from the drop zone.