Manchester United may hold back from bidding for Newcastle United midfielder Cheik Tiote next month.

The Mirror says United head the queue for Tiote, but could hold fire until the summer for the in-form Newcastle star.

Tiote, 25, joined the Toon from FC Twente for £3.5million in August 2010, and the Ivory Coast ace penned a new six-and-a-half-year contract in February.

But his defensive midfield­ displays have been noted by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who has lost midfielders Tom Cleverley and Anderson to injuries and Darren Fletcher to an illness-related leave of absence.