Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote is delighted Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are staying.

The summer transfer window is still open but Chelsea target Tiote is delighted to see all his pals still at St James' Park.

The Ivory Coast star said: "It is good for the squad and it is good for the manager.

"It's a team thing and we are not Arsenal, Man 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.

"This season will be bigger than last season. We did great last season and everyone is waiting to see how we will do.

"It will be hard but we are all ready for this season and for the first game against Spurs.

"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."