Tiote rumours

Manchester City are considering a summer move for Newcastle's Cheick Tiote.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini wants a top quality defensive midfielder to bolster his squad and has been impressed by Tiote since his arrival in England.

The 27-year-old Ivory Coast star is a fiery character who has drawn admiring glances from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United since signing from FC Twente in 2010.

He was particularly impressive in Newcastle's 2-0 defeat by City at St James' Park last month, when he was unfortunate to have a goal disallowed, and also caught the eye with a lung-busting performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

City have been weighing up the likes of Fernando at Porto and Victor Wanyama at Southampton but Tiote is emerging as their preferred option.

He has a proven Premier League pedigree, has performed well in Europe and has a good understanding with international team-mate and friend Yaya Toure.

Although Javi Garcia has shown signs of why City shelled out £17million for him of late, they still want someone with greater consistency and quality.

City remain keen on England and Southampton left back Luke Shaw, as do Chelsea and Manchester United, and will look to add a goalkeeper, centre back and possibly a striker depending on departures.

Inter Milan are among several clubs interested in Edin Dzeko and the Bosnian will weigh up his options at the end of the season.

Newcastle would not sell Tiote cheaply but they also anticipate a summer of change with the likes of Papiss Cisse, Shola Ameobi and Mathieu Debuchy either ready to leave or subject to interest from other clubs.

I'll be happy if it stays as a vicious rumour with no truth in it whatsoever.