Just five days after the January transfer window closed, it’s already time to talk summer transfer window. Cheick Tiote is the latest Manchester United target according to the Daily Star. Yes, it’s a midfielder. Much like most of the transfer rumors.
Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote is regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the Barclay’s Premier League and David Moyes has identified him as the prime target for Michael Carrick.
And Moyes tried to sign Tiote during his days as boss at Everton. Tioté is known for breaking up opponents’ play and retains possession with his style of play. Due to his tackling, Tioté has been a consistent name in the referee’s book, picking up 14 yellow cards in his debut season in the Premier League. Would he leave St. James Park? Supposedly United had checked him out during this past transfer window and could possibly table a bid at the end of the season. And his current deal is rather long term.
On February 25th, 2011 Newcastle announced that Tioté had signed a new six-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him at Newcastle, unless anyone purchases him until 2017.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar, he’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on ESPN, NBC, CBS and Fox Sports Radio. A former writer for NBC Chicago and the Washington Times, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)