Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua's bid for Ivorian midfielder Chieck Tiote has apparently been 'stalled' due to the midfielder's salary demands.

As a result, the 29-year-old's $8.5 million move to China could now be in doubt.

Earlier, Newcastle was reported to have accepted the offer of the Chinese outfit and agreed to a three-year deal for the Magpie midfielder. Tiote reportedly travelled to China the following week to undergo medical and complete the formalities of his transfer.

Like Us on Facebook

However, new reports suggests that the switch has not been completed and it is not clear whether dialogues is still ongoing between the club and the player.

In this transfer window, Newcastle has already bought two midfielders for a combined amount of $23 million in the persons of English Jonjo Shelvey from the Swansea City and Senegalese Henri Saivet from Bordeaux.

Both the newly acquired professional footballers are able to play the holding-midfield role that the Ivory Coast international occupies in the team.

Tiote has made 11 Premier League appearances this season and his contract will expire in 18 months time

Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC is a professional Chinese football team that currently participates in the highest tier of professional football in China, the Chinese Super League.

The Blue Devils (Shanghai Shenhua's football club moniker) are based in Kangqiao, Shanghai. Their home stadium, the Hongkou Football Stadium has a seating capacity of over 33,000.

Chinese outfits have been very active in the transfer window. Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano is likely to move to China's Jiangsu Suning soon.

Shanghai Shenhua is also in talks with the Sunderland over Scottish striker Steven Fletcher who is in the final year of his contract with the Premier League club.

TagsBordeaux, Ivory Coast, Shanghai Shenhua