With January fast approaching the media is clogged up with rumours about big money signings that could go through in the New Year and one player in the North East is of particular interest. Cheik Tiote has built up a reputation in the English game as one of the best holding midfielders of the past two years and so it is not surprise that interest is high.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea appear to be the front runners to sign the Ivorian international with a fee of over £25 million being reported in some newspapers over the past month. Considering Tiote arrived on Tyneside for just £3.5 million less than 18 months ago from FC Twente and the fact that some would say Toon owner Mike Ashley is extremely money motivated, would it be a surprise if the club cashed in on a £20 million plus profit next month?
Geordie fans are desperate to hold on to their prized asset who returned to Premier League action at the weekend in a goalless draw at home to Swansea after over seven weeks on the sidelines. The likes of Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton along with Andy Carroll may have been the prominent players at St James’ Park last season but the supporters will not have missed Tiote’s rise in the team and his consistency level that was hard to beat in the Premier League.
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But the big question is going to be whether Ashley allows his player to leave just as he did this time last year with the before mentioned Carroll who turned out to be a great piece of business for Newcastle. However, the profit from the Carroll deal is yet to be spent and so the club are in a good position financially, meaning the need to sell Tiote is minimal. Selling the naming rights of St James’ Park should also increase revenue and so the club that seemed to have a different issue each month in years gone by appear to finally be on the straight and narrow.
The consistency in the board room has reflected their excellent start to the season and Alan Pardew is continuing his impressive management record at a very big club. So if Newcastle want to be taken seriously and have the possibility of challenging for European football in the next 18 months they have got to keep players like Tiote. There is no need to sell financially and so Ashley has got to reward the fans and Pardew with not only keeping the top players but adding to the squad so they can attempt to get on the same level as the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal in the near future. Demba Ba and Tiote will be at the African Cup of Nations in January and miss crucial games and will need to be replaced.
Newcastle cannot afford to become a selling club to the top teams and holding onto certain players will be just as good as a new signing at the Sports Direct Arena. Ashley has got to stand strong with the fans and the manager and a top half finish will definitely be on the cards this season with the ability to improve on that in the coming years. Things are still looking good in the North East but transfer windows are always a nervy time for Geordies, but that has to change.
Written by Brad Pinard
