Newcastle fear they could lose Cheikh Tiote

The Ivory Coast international’s current contract runs until 2017, but managing director Derek Llambias thinks a substantial offer could be on the cards and they would find it hard to refuse. "We'll be losing one or two names this summer, but that'll be regenerated back into the squad,” he told the Daily Mail. "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.” Llambias is hopeful that continued success could see Tiote want to remain on Tyneside as the club aims to bring European football back to the north east. "One thing in our favour is that we now have a very good side and that might encourage the player to stay,” he added. "But if someone knocks on the door and says they want this or that money, the reality may be that we have to trade."