Sporting Gijon are closing in on the signing of Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote on a free transfer, according to multiple reports.
The Ivorian is out of contract at St. James’ Park at the end of the current campaign but the Magpies are willing to let him leave on a free transfer this month after he failing to feature in Rafael Benitez’s first-team plans this season – making his first start of the season against Birmingham City in the FA Cup last Saturday.
The Chronicle reported Sporting Gijon’s sporting director Nico Rodríguez flew to Newcastle on Monday to help speed along negotiations and whilst the Asturian club are also considering Tomás Pina, Marko Vejinovic of Feyenoord and Sampdoria midfielder Luca Cigarini, it’s Tiote who is their priority.
Newcastle rejected a €10m bid from Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua a year ago but the 30-year-old is set to favour the chance of playing in Spain’s top flight whilst taking a small reduction in wages.
