Newcastle's Cheick Tiote facing weeks in transfer limbo

Cheick Tiote's future is unlikely to be decided before tonight's transfer deadline.
Cheick TioteCheick Tiote
Cheick Tiote

Instead, the Newcastle United midfielder is facing weeks in transfer limbo.

Tiote's proposed £4million move to Shanghai Shenhua has fallen through.

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And the 29-year-old – who was given permission to meet officials from the Chinese Super League club last month – has been back on Tyneside.

Two more clubs in China – one of them understood to be Beijing Guoan – are interested in signing the Ivory Coast international, who is looking for a fresh challenge away from St James's Park after five and a half years at United.

However, the transfer window is open for another 25 days in China.

It remains to be seen whether Tiote will return to Steve McClaren's squad in the meantime.

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Tiote hasn't featured for the club since January 12, when he was in the side that faced Manchester United at St James's Park.

Speaking last month, McClaren said: "There's an approach from a Chinese team, and Cheick is currently on his way to meet them.

"There's no agreement, nothing has been finalised, nothing has been agreed.

"The player is just going out there to have a chat with them and see how that ends up."