NEWCASTLE UNITED insist there have been no offers for £25m-rated Cheik Tiote, but manager Alan Pardew revealed the player has his price after learning from the sale of Andy Carroll last January.

Manchester United are looking to strengthen their midfield next month and Chelsea have also long admired a player often described by Pardew as his team’s ‘warrior’.

The Newcastle boss insists he wants to keep the Ivorian, but thinks the departure of Carroll for £35m to Liverpool at the start of the year highlighted how quickly situations can change.

Pardew had long maintained Carroll would not leave Newcastle and he was forced to explain the club’s decision to cash in for weeks after.

Now, with the January window approaching, Pardew is keen not to make the same mistake this time around in case one of his biggest assets leaves.

“I think I’ve learned from the Andy Carroll situation.

And I think outside of Man City, every club has a player that is vulnerable,” said Pardew.

“We value Cheik very highly here and I think on my part, I expect him to stay. But that does not mean to say something might not come out of the fire.

“But reports of bids, I can confirm, are not true. If he did go, it would have to be for a silly price.”

After meeting with Mike Ashley last week to discuss transfer plans for January, Pardew met again with the club’s owner yesterday afternoon to discuss progress.

Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga, who is believed to have had a medical on Tuesday in London ahead of a £7m move to Tyneside next month, is sure to have been on the agenda, while Tiote will have been another.

“I think it is very important that me and Mike communicate in this period,” said the Newcastle boss. “He is very focused on what a great season, we’re having. He is very, very pleased and he wants it to continue.”

Tiote, who has not played since October 22nd with knee trouble, has established himself as one of the most highly- rated holding midfielders in the Premier League since moving from Twente for £3.5m in August last year.

The Newcastle manager, hoping Tiote trains today so he will be in contention to face Swansea tomorrow, said: “He has been unsettled but because of his injury. I don’t think it is anything else past that. He is one of those who wants to train and play.

“We have missed him. You do miss someone of that presence and that power on the pitch. You’ve always got 11 players but take a key one out and you are going to miss him.”

He thinks there are ‘one or two’ of his players that other clubs could be interested in and any departures would strengthen his hand in the transfer market.

Maiga is almost certainly the one, while PSV Eindhoven’s Eirik Pieters and Birmingham’s Liam Ridgewell are two candidates in the defensive reckoning.

Valenciennes centre-back Nicolas Isimat-Mirin has been watched by Newcastle’s scouting team, while scouts were also in attendance to monitor Montpellier's 12-goal front-man Olivier Giroud this week once again.

Newcastle’s defensive woes have been highlighted in recent weeks after Steven Taylor, who is out for the rest of the season with Achilles trouble, and Fabricio Coloccini, who could face Swansea, picked up injuries.

But Mike Williamson emerged through 45 minutes of reserve action this week and is in contention to play tomorrow provided he does not suffer any negative effects in training today. “He is a big asset to have after the loss of Steven,” said Pardew.

And he also confirmed Newcastle’s contract discussions with Danny Simpson, who has 18 months still to run on his existing deal, will not be reopened until the summer after the full-back’s decision to bide his time.

“We have both decided to run to the summer and therefore we will have to look at other options if he decides he doesn’t want to stay,” said Pardew.

“That’s where we are and there will be no change in his position here.

“We will see what happens from there. He either does the deal or he doesn’t – if he doesn’t we will get someone else.

That’s business.”