Cheik Tiote has shrugged off speculation regarding his future by committing himself to Newcastle.
Midfielder intends to honour long-term contract
Cheik Tiote has shrugged off speculation regarding his future by committing himself to Newcastle.
The Magpies midfielder is reported to be a summer transfer target for Chelsea, with the Blues having seen Michael Essien ruled out for up to six months with knee ligament damage.
Newcastle insist they have received no approach from their Premier League rivals, but the rumour mill continues to churn.
Tiote only arrived in England last summer, in a £3.5million switch from FC Twente, and shone during his debut season at St James' Park.
He penned a new six-and-a-half-year deal in February and insists he has no plans to break that agreement, regardless of what others may say.
Happy
Tiote 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."
Newcastle moved quickly to tie Tiote down on a long-term deal last season after being pleasantly surprised at the speed at which he acclimatised to life in the Premier League.
The one area of his game he will need to work on this season is his discipline, with 14 yellow cards picked up last term.
