Steve McClaren looks set to fend off interest from China for Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse and insist the pair see out the season at St James Park.
Magpies midfielder Tiote has seen a move to Shanghai Greenland Shenhua collapse last month, and is believed to have been subject of an offer from Guangzhou Evergrande earlier this week. Cisse has received similar Far East interest and has been targeted by Beijing Guoan, another club also to have been linked with Tiote.
However, McClaren has reprotedly asked club officials to keep hold of the pair in order to aid their battle against relegation this season. If the two players do remain, then the club will likely look to move them both on in the summer, with China remaining a probable destination.
Source: transfermarketweb.com