Tiote dismisses Chelsea link

Last updated : 15 July 2011 By Team Talk

The Magpies were forced to issue a denial that the Blues had made contact over the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international earlier this week, with the rumour mill suggesting he could be a target in the wake of Michael Essien's latest injury blow.

However Tiote, who joined the club in a ?3.5million switch from FC Twente last summer and signed a new six-and-a-half-year deal in February after an impressive start to his career in England, is adamant he is staying at St James' Park.

He told the Evening Chronicle: "I am a Newcastle player and I will do my job in Newcastle.

"I have a contract and that is the most important thing for me. I'm happy - if I wasn't happy, I wouldn't have signed for six years."

The Magpies were swift to tie Tiote up in a long-term deal after he took to the Premier League in impressive style having being advised to move to Tyneside by former England and Twente boss Steve McClaren.

His combative style - he picked up 14 yellow cards - quickly established him as a crowd favourite and alerted the big guns to his talent.

Tiote's reassurances will be welcomed by supporters, although they will remember similar comments from striker Andy Carroll, who had also signed a new lengthy deal months before Liverpool made Newcastle an offer they could not refuse in January.

Some of the ?35million the club received for Carroll is understood to have financed the midfielder's contract, and Pardew has insisted that the remainder will be re-invested, with Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Mehdi Abeid having been added to the squad already and another striker the overwhelming priority.

Tiote - who scored a stunning late equaliser in last season's remarkable 4-4 draw with Arsenal - and his team-mates are due to fly to the United States on Monday for a pre-season training camp which will include three games.

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk