Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has said that the club have yet to find a potential club for midfielder Cheick Tiote, although he is hopeful a bid from a Middle East club will come in soon.
The transfer windows closes in fourteen days time in the United Arab Emirates and Ivory Coast international Tiote has been linked with a move to the Gulf states for a number of months. Talking to the Evening Chronicle, Benitez said there is still time for a bid to arrive but he is happy with the 30 year old remaining if no deal emerges:
“I was talking with him on Tuesday because obviously we are still waiting, the 20th is the date the transfer window closes in the Emirates. But he is training really well, so I just told him: ‘Look, just wait a little bit, keep training hard and then we can decide.’ Because he is a player who still has something to offer.”
The midfielder did come on in the second half against Aston Villa in the 1-1 draw at Villa Park last month but has not even been in the squad for any other matches in the league or cup this campaign.
With his contract expiring at the end of the current season, the Ivorian may opt to see out his time at St James’ Park, and so we may yet see the Ivorian in a Newcastle shirt once again if a move away doesn’t materialise.
