Continue
Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote has insisted that he has no interest in leaving St. James Park and is keen to secure European football for manager Alan Pardew.
Manchester United had been linked with a move for the 25-year-old after a string of impressive performances at the start of the season that has seen Newcastle remain unbeaten in nine league games.
The defensive midfielder cost just £3.5million when he joined Newcastle from FC Twente in the summer of 2010 and has quickly established himself as a firm fan favourite.
The Ivory Coast international has formed a superb partnership with Yohan Cabaye and a number of reports had suggested that Manchester United would consider an offer in January.
However, Tiote insists that he has no intention of leaving Newcastle as the side attempt to overtake Chelsea and move into third with a win over Stoke on Monday night.
"I'm happy at Newcastle," Tiote told the Sunday Sun. "I have a long contract at Newcastle now and I need to stay focused because we are in a very good position.
"We have the possibility for a very, very good season but we need to stay focused and keep going like we are now. Every player wants to play in Europe and I am no different.
"I think that Newcastle can get into Europe, but we need to stay focused as of now and keep working together. It is possible for us to get into Europe but we need to stay focused and we need to keep going as we are now."
Connect with Sportsvibe by joining our social media network. Join the debate to get your voice heard and stay informed with up-to-the-minute news, videos, competitions and articles from the world of sport.
Follow us on Twitter: @sportsvibe_says and @sportsvibe
Follow us on Facebook: Sportsvibe Says
