Reports – Newcastle ready to ditch Tiote

Lokomotiv Moscow have opened talks with Newcastle over a move for Cheick Tiote, according to reports in Russia.

Manager Leonid Kuchuk needs a new holding midfielder with Lassana Diarra certain to leave this summer and Tiote is their No.1 target.

And Russian newspaper, Izvestia, has reported that Lokomotiv representatives have already started discussions with Newcastle about a move.

It has been suggested that a fee of around £8m could be enough to sign him outright while the Russian club are also open to a season-long loan move.