Chelsea are preparing a major swap offer for Newcastle United midfielder Cheik Tiote.

The Evening Chronicle says West London suggest he is still very much on the Blues' winter wish-list, but United are still not interested in selling the player they plucked from FC Twente last summer.

Chelsea will use unsettled stars to try to manoeuvre in the transfer window in January, such as transfer-listed centre-back Alex and Ivorian duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, while the option of Josh McEachran on loan as part of any potential deals is also part of André Villas-Boas' transfer strategy.

A source close to Chelsea said: "Tiote is a player everybody at Chelsea admires.

"There are a number of options and possibilities on offer, but we will have to see what the mood is when the window opens."