Alan Pardew has revealed that Newcastle have prepared themselves for bids for star pair Cheikh Tiote and Yohan Cabaye before the end of the transfer window.
The pair were pivotal to the Magpies’ success last season and the former Southampton boss has confirmed that replacements would be sought if either were sold, but maintains that his aim is to keep both players on Tyneside.
“We are on our guard in case some really big bid comes in and we need to react because if someone goes out, another player will come in,” Pardew told The Daily Mail.
“But success for me in this transfer window would be losing none of our stars.”
Tiote himself also hopes that the Magpies’ top stars will remain at the club as they look to mix it with the Premier league’s leading lights once again.
The Ivory Coast international added: “It is good for the squad and it is good for the manager.
“It’s a team thing and we are not Arsenal, [Manchester] United or Chelsea. We are Newcastle, so if we can keep our best players then it will be good for this club.
“Had we lost two or three key players then it would be difficult to do the same as last season. It’s good for the Newcastle family going forward.”
The 26-year-old believes that the side have enough quality to match their achievements of last term, pointing to the morale in the squad as being key to their successes.
“This season will be bigger than last season,” Tiote claimed. “We did great last season and everyone is waiting to see how we will do.
“The team spirit here is great. That’s what helped us have such a good season. We still have that spirit going into this season.”