According tor reports in English Media Outlet Telegraph, Arsenal target Cheick Tiote has underlined his desire to leave Newcastle United after spending four years at Tyneside.

Speaking to the media in Ivory Coast the 28 year old claimed, “I want to leave. I’ve spent four years with Newcastle. I think I have reached a stage where it’s maybe time to look elsewhere for a new challenge. I will focus on upcoming games and let’s see what happens between now and December.”

The recent developments will come as a huge boost to Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager who was on the lookout for a holding midfielder throughout the past summer transfer window. With Mikel Arteta making school boy errors and Mathieu Flamini way past his best, Tiote will be a welcome addition for the North London side.

The player also spoke on his desire to stay in England and acknowledged that the Gunners were interested in him, “It is true there were contacts for me from Arsenal and a club in Russia. I’d prefer to stay in England.”

Tiote has a contract with the magpies until 2017 but Arsenal could land the midfielder on the cheap now that he wants to take up a new challenge. The Ivory Coast International would be available for less than £10m, a price which is significantly less than the Gunners’ number one target William Carvalho from Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon.