http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk ... ve_for_Magpies_ace/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awr0RObZDDU&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNU0fldo0Vw CHELSEA have included Newcastle United’s Cheik Tiote on a shortlist of potential replacements for injured midfielder Michael Essien.
Stamford Bridge officials have made preliminary inquiries about the possible availability of Tiote, who signed a six-and-a-half year deal with the Magpies in February.
Boss Alan Pardew has no desire to sell the 25-year-old, who was arguably his club’s most influential performer last season despite only making a ￡4.5m move from Dutch side FC Twente last August.
However, as the Andy Carroll saga proved, every player has their price, and the presence of a long-term contractual agreement is not necessarily a barrier to owner Mike Ashley attempting to cash in.
Tiote will not be allowed to leave on the cheap – ￡15m is likely to be a starting point when it comes to any financial discussions – but the Chelsea hierarchy are keen to keep the channels of dialogue open as they attempt to overcome Essien’s latest injury setback.
Essien suffered a recurrence of a long-standing knee injury this week, and has undergone reconstructive ligament surgery. Publicly, Chelsea officials have quoted a six-month period of rehabilitation, but privately there are bound to be fears that the injury-plagued Ghanaian’s career could be in doubt.
As a result, Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has already been given permission to recruit a high-calibre replacement.
His preferred target is Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho, but any move for the Portugal international would be plagued by difficulties.
Not only does Moutinho’s contract specify a 35m Euros buy-out clause – a price that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is unlikely to pay – but having effectively forced his way out of Porto in order to move to England last month, Villas-Boas is also aware of the political hurdles that would be placed in the way of any attempt to sign one of his former club’s most important players.
With that in mind, the Portuguese has been presented with a list of alternative targets, most of whom were scouted by Chelsea’s recruitment team prior to his arrival as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement.
Tiote’s name features prominently, along with former Newcastle skipper Scott Parker, who will leave Upton Park this summer following West Ham United’s relegation to the Championship.
While Parker would be a cheaper option given West Ham’s desire to sell, the England international turns 31 in October and is regarded as a stop-gap rather than a long-term replacement for Essien, so Tiote would be a much more progressive signing.
Two players all but certain to leave Tyneside are Wayne Routledge and Nile Ranger, and having turned down an opportunity to join Blackpool, the latter is now interesting West Ham. Routledge is close to completing a ￡1.5m move to Leicester City.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s pursuit of Neil Taylor has been referred to a Premier League arbitration panel after the full-back’s current employers, Swansea City, queried an alleged ￡1m release clause in his contract.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awr0RObZDDU&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNU0fldo0Vw CHELSEA have included Newcastle United’s Cheik Tiote on a shortlist of potential replacements for injured midfielder Michael Essien.
Stamford Bridge officials have made preliminary inquiries about the possible availability of Tiote, who signed a six-and-a-half year deal with the Magpies in February.
Boss Alan Pardew has no desire to sell the 25-year-old, who was arguably his club’s most influential performer last season despite only making a ￡4.5m move from Dutch side FC Twente last August.
However, as the Andy Carroll saga proved, every player has their price, and the presence of a long-term contractual agreement is not necessarily a barrier to owner Mike Ashley attempting to cash in.
Tiote will not be allowed to leave on the cheap – ￡15m is likely to be a starting point when it comes to any financial discussions – but the Chelsea hierarchy are keen to keep the channels of dialogue open as they attempt to overcome Essien’s latest injury setback.
Essien suffered a recurrence of a long-standing knee injury this week, and has undergone reconstructive ligament surgery. Publicly, Chelsea officials have quoted a six-month period of rehabilitation, but privately there are bound to be fears that the injury-plagued Ghanaian’s career could be in doubt.
As a result, Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has already been given permission to recruit a high-calibre replacement.
His preferred target is Porto midfielder Joao Moutinho, but any move for the Portugal international would be plagued by difficulties.
Not only does Moutinho’s contract specify a 35m Euros buy-out clause – a price that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is unlikely to pay – but having effectively forced his way out of Porto in order to move to England last month, Villas-Boas is also aware of the political hurdles that would be placed in the way of any attempt to sign one of his former club’s most important players.
With that in mind, the Portuguese has been presented with a list of alternative targets, most of whom were scouted by Chelsea’s recruitment team prior to his arrival as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement.
Tiote’s name features prominently, along with former Newcastle skipper Scott Parker, who will leave Upton Park this summer following West Ham United’s relegation to the Championship.
While Parker would be a cheaper option given West Ham’s desire to sell, the England international turns 31 in October and is regarded as a stop-gap rather than a long-term replacement for Essien, so Tiote would be a much more progressive signing.
Two players all but certain to leave Tyneside are Wayne Routledge and Nile Ranger, and having turned down an opportunity to join Blackpool, the latter is now interesting West Ham. Routledge is close to completing a ￡1.5m move to Leicester City.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s pursuit of Neil Taylor has been referred to a Premier League arbitration panel after the full-back’s current employers, Swansea City, queried an alleged ￡1m release clause in his contract.
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