Why Tiote's new contract will remain a worthless stunt until Newcastle reject a bid for him

By Brian McNally

Published 13:59 26/02/11

• 

Follow Brian McNally on Twitter

Newcastle fans have shown an understandably mixed response to the news that influential Ivory Coast midfielder Cheik Tiote has committed his future at Newcastle until 2017.

But after seeing Newcastle make a huge fuss over England striker Andy Carroll signing a new five-year deal last autumn and then being sold for £35million a few months later, there is a lot of cynicism being washed up on the banks of the Tyne.

The Toon Army are not stupid. They know long contracts are not worth the paper they are written on if owner Mike Ashley decides to go down the Carroll route again.

At least the club are now admitting that every player has a price these days and not dishing out the "will not be sold at any price" rubbish that we heard in January - just before Carroll was sold.

The hard part for Newcastle is not getting Tiote to sign a new deal on far bigger wages. The only thing that will wash with the Geordie public is Newcastle proving they want to keep their best young stars.

And we will only get the answer to that when a big bid comes in for Tiote.

Fancy winning £3,000 for FREE this month? Play Mirror Football Streak for your chance to win cash prizes! Start predicting now!