Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote (middle) competes for the ball against Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey. (Photo : Getty Images)
Newcastle United defender Cheick Tiote's rumored move to Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC has reportedly collapsed, but still the Ivorian footballer is said to be keen on transferring to China as two more Chinese teams are rumored to be interested in the midfielder.
Chronicle Live reported that the 29-year-old Ivory Coast international "is back on Tyneside" after Shanghai Shenhua "had a change of heart on the move", but "Tiote still wants to quit Newcastle this month".
"Negotiations are still ongoing. There was a complication that they were in camp in Spain so they have not got back together," Newcastle United's first-year head coach Steve McClaren confirmed. "But I can't see any complications."
Rumors have emerged that Chinese Super League clubs Beijing Guoan and Hebei China Fortune are both targeting Tiote and that the two squads are already negotiating with the 5-foot-11, Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast native.
It was also reported that Tiote "is expected to make a decision about his future in the next 24 hours", according to Tribal Football.
Tiote is allegedly unhappy with his status at the St. James' Park for the last three seasons and has been requesting for a transfer especially after learning of interests from a few Middle Eastern and Russian football clubs in the past.
Former manager Alan Pardew, now coaching fellow English Premier League club Crystal Palace, said to have tried to appease the midfielder before the manager's transfer to the rival team by appointing Tiote as the Magpies' vice-captain.
The former FC Twente player was signed by Newcastle in August 2010 for a transfer fee of £3.5 million from the Dutch side.
He has played six seasons for the Magpies so far, from 2010-2011 to 2015-2016, appearing in 141 games in all competitions and scoring only once, which was during his maiden year with Newcastle.
Tiote's debut as a senior player was with Belgian team RSC Anderlecht in 2005. He stayed there for three seasons with his last season spent on loan to Dutch squad Roda JC Kerkrade before moving to Twente in October 2008.
Aside from Tiote, Chinese Super League clubs are currently targeting several Premier League talents such as Manchester City's Yaya Touré, Chelsea's John Obi Mikel and Ramires, Aston Villa's Joleon Lescott, and West Ham United's Nikica Jelavic.
