Al Jazira have made an approach for Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote, but face competition from Premier League side Watford.
The Abu Dhabi club have identified the Ivorian as one of their main targets this summer as they attempt to remodel their foreign contingent. Tiote, 30, has one year left on his Newcastle contract, but on Tuesday was omitted from the squad to face Southend United in a preseason friendly.
More football transfer news:
• Arsenal seek new defender: Arsenal enter market as Per Mertesacker faces 'months' out, reveals Wenger
• Transfer talk: Lyon turn down Arsenal bid for Lacazette; Dortmund dismiss City interest in Aubameyang
• Pochettino staying put: 'I am happy at Tottenham' as he rules himself out of Argentina job
Tiote is keen on the transfer to Jazira, with the President’s Cup holders seeking new additions to help challenge for silverware next season. Last season, Jazira initially struggled under Abel Braga before Henk ten Cate helped lift the club to seventh in the Arabian Gulf League.
At present, the club have on their books Mirko Vucinic, Park Jong-woo, Jefferson Farfan, Angel Lafita and Thiago Neves, although it remains to be seen which player, if any, are retained. Farfan has reportedly impressed during Jazira’s preseason camp in Holland.
Tiote was close to a move to Asia earlier this year, but a January switch to China’s Shanghai Shenhua fell through at the last minute. He joined Newcastle from Dutch side FC Twente in 2010 and has made 153 appearances, scoring once. Last season, he featured 20 times in the Premier League as Newcastle were relegated.
Jazira are one of the only Arabian Gulf League clubs yet to do any major business this summer, although they bolstered their local ranks with Humaid Ahmed and Salem Abdulla arriving from Fujairah and Al Wasl respectively.
Former captain Ibrahim Diaky is training with squad after being released by Al Ain, while full-back Mohammed Fawzi is also expected to make the move from the Garden City to the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium. Meanwhile, Khalid Sabeal and Sultan Al Munthari have both left Jazira for Wasl.
[ jmcauley@thenational.ae ]
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
