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It may have been a fantastic season for Newcastle but the club's managing director Derek Llambias is worried that the superb form of Cheick Tiote will make him a wanted man this summer.
The 25-year-old has been one of the star performers as Newcastle have remained in with a chance of finishing in the top four after surprising many with their impressive performances.
Tiote missed more than a month when he was playing in the African Cup of Nations and has tasted defeat just twice when he has been in the Newcastle side in the Premier League.
The defensive midfielder first signed for Newcastle in the summer of 2010 from Duch side Twente and has gradually increased his reputation with a string of commanding performances.
Now Llambias is worried that they will struggle to hang on to the midfielder and that there will be a number of offers arriving for the midfielder, despite the fact he is contracted until 2017.
"We'll be losing one or two names this summer, but that'll be regenerated back into the squad," Llambias told Sky Sports. "For instance, Tiote has been with us a year and a half. He is out there. People know he's a good player.
"He's proven in the Premier League, he's not picking up as many yellow cards, he's learning. How are we going to stop a big club from coming in for him? It'll be very hard."
"One thing in our favour is that we now have a very good side and that might encourage the player to stay. But if someone knocks on the door and says they want this or that money, the reality may be that we have to trade."
The Ivory Coast international has been crucial to the Newcastle side and fans will hope that there are not too many substantial offers for the midfielder.
