The agent of Cheick Tiote is still looking to secure the central midfielder a move away from the club in the next few weeks (Chronicle). Although the transfer window has closed, clubs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia can still sign players up until September 22nd and this could be where Tiote’s next club is located.
After a Deadline Day move to Super Lig side Galatasaray fell through, it means that out-of-favour Tiote faces the long wait until January to seal a move away from St James’ Park. His agent is understood to be working around the clock to secure that transfer.
Two clubs that Tiote could end up signing for are Al Ahli and Al Sadd. The Qatar Stars League is seen as a megabucks league, similar to that of the Chinese Super League, which is where the Ivory Coast international tried to move last January.
Should he move to Al Sadd, he could line up alongside Barcelona legend Xavi in the heart of the midfield. The 36-year-old Spaniard moved to the Doha club in 2015 after his departure from the Nou Camp, the club he played for since the age of 11.
Competition for places in intense in the Newcastle midfield, even more so after the signing of Isaac Hayden. Tiote still has a year left on his contract but of course there is the chance that Rafa Benitez could reintroduce the player back into the fold at some point. That would appear unlikely however, especially as he hasn’t played in a Newcastle shirt since the 5-1 home win against Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of last season. He has made over 130 appearances for the Magpies.
