Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote is reportedly close to finalizing his transfer to Shandong Luneng after agreeing to terms with the Chinese Super League club on deadline day.

SkySports reported that the 30-year-old Ivorian footballer arrived in China last week and is currently "undergoing a medical at Shandong." The cost of the transfer has been undisclosed, but reports said that it was sizeable.

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Tiote was acquired by Newcastle in the summer of 2009 from Eredivisie squad FC Twente for a fee of $4.3 million. He appeared in 156 games in all competitions for the Magpies in six-and-a-half seasons since then, scoring one goal as a defensive midfielder.

The 5-foot-11 Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast native has been struggling to find playing time this season under head coach Rafa Benitez, appearing in only one game and scoring zero goals for Newcastle in the Championship so far. The Magpies were relegated from the Premier League after finishing 18th in the English top-flight table last season.

Tiote has only four months remaining on his contract with Newcastle, and there were no indications that the club is planning to give him an extension.

La Liga side Sporting Gijon reportedly submitted an offer for Tiote last month while several other Premier League clubs were also linked to him in the past several months. However, Shandong won the bid for the midfielder.

While the winter transfer window ended for European clubs on Jan. 31, Chinese teams still have until Feb. 28 to pull off deals, which means there is more than enough time for Shandong to complete Tiote's move.

According to Daily Mail Online, Benitez was initially reluctant to let Tiote leave as the team is undermanned in midfield with injuries to Isaac Hayden and Vurnon Anita. But upon Hayden's return and the emergence of Jonjo Shelvey, the former Real Madrid boss allowed Tiote to push through with the switch.

Tiote is set to join former Newcastle teammate Papiss Cissé and ex-Southampton striker Graziano Pellè at Shandong. The other Luneng imports are Brazilians Gil, Diego Tardelli, and Jucilei.  

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League rumors, Chinese Super League rumors 2017, Cheick Tiote, Newcastle United FC, Shandong Luneng Taishan FC