Category: Transfer news

Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure says he is ready for a new challenge after leaving Olympiakos, sparking rumours of a Premier League return.

The Ivorian has departed the Greek Super League outfit just three months and five appearances after rejoining them.

And in a statement to Olympiakos fans on Facebook, Toure said: “I came back for you. I had a vision and wanted to win trophies for you.

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“Sadly, it has not worked out but I move on with love in my heart for you all. You have always encouraged me and stood by me.

“But now it is time for a new challenge. My love for football still burns strong.”

Olympiakos confirmed on Tuesday Toure’s his contract had been terminated by mutual agreement.

The 35-year-old, who was released by City after playing a limited role last season, was in his second spell with the club after playing for them in 2005-06 and winning a domestic double.

After his departure from City, he had opted to return to Greece after the opportunity to link up with former Blues team-mate Pablo Zabaleta and manager Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham failed to materialise.

Toure has a home in London and reportedly believes he can still operate at Premier League level, despite his famed powers waning during his final season at the Etihad.

Sky Sports reports he has turned down offers from the Chinese Super League and MLS in the hope of securing a last hurrah in the English top flight.

Toure joined City in 2010, winning three Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup. He scored 59 goals in 230 games for the Blues.

Before that he won two La Liga titles and the Champions League at Barcelona.

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Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure could be on the verge of a Premier League return after leaving Olympiakos.

The Ivorian has departed the Greek Super League outfit just three months after rejoining them.

The club confirmed on Tuesday his contract had been terminated by mutual agreement.

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Toure, 35, who was released by City after playing a limited role last season, was in his second spell with the club.

He played for Olympiakos in 2005-06, winning a domestic double, but his follow-up period in Greece ended after just five appearances.

“Yaya is and remains an important member of the Olympiakos family, who has marked a central part of the history of the club,” said a club statement.

“Olympiakos would like to thank him for everything he has offered to the club.

“Yaya will remain deeply devoted to the club and wishes to Olympiakos lots of success. Yaya is leaving as a friend and the doors at Olympiakos will always be open for him.”

Toure, who joined Barcelona in 2007, winning two La Liga titles and the Champions League in 2009, was linked with a move to West Ham in the summer.

He opted to return to Greece with a deal to link up with former City team-mate Pablo Zabaleta and manager Manuel Pellegrini failing to materialise.

Toure has a home in London and reportedly believes he can still operate at Premier League level, despite his famed powers waning during his final season at the Etihad.

Sky Sports report that he has turned down offers from the Chinese Super League and MLS in the hope of securing a last hurrah in the English top flight.

Toure joined City in 2010, winning three Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup.

He scored 59 goals in 230 games for the Blues.

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Fernando Llorente wants a return to Athletic Bilbao after failing to make an impact at Tottenham.

The Spanish striker moved from Swansea to White Hart Lane in summer of 2017 for £13.5 million but has scored just once in 17 Premier League appearances – all but one from from bench.

Harry Kane’s dominant position as Spurs’ main goalscorer has meant limited opportunity for the 33-year-old and he has spoken openly of his desire to move to the club where he was a big favourite between 2005 and 2013.

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“I would like to go back to Athletic. My priority is to feel important in the team,” he told Cadena SER. 

“If I have the opportunity and can talk to them, for me, yes, I would like to go back.”

Llorente is contracted to Tottenham until June 2019 with the club having the option of a 12-month extension.

But while he has clearly set his sights on leaving in the January transfer window, the veteran forward acknowledges his future is dependent on an Athletic aproach and Spurs chairman Daniel Levy agreeing a move. 

He added: “Leaving in the winter market does not depend on me, Athletic would have to talk to Tottenham and Levy.”

Manager Mauricio Pochettino left Llorente out of his squad for Saturday’s Premier League win over Leicester.

Even with Kane resting on the bench, the Spurs boss went with a strikeforce of Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son and named rarely-used French winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou among the Spurs substitutes.

Llorente did make it off the bench for the Chamlions League draw with Barcelona on Tuesday which sealed Spurs’ passage to the next round.

He spent two seasons in Serie A with Juventus, winning two titles, and a year with Sevilla as well as his time with Swansea after leaving Bilbao.

Llorente was a member of Spain’s victorious 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 squads. 

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Dimitar Berbatov has suggested that Manchester United should look at making a January move for Leicester City centre-back Harry Maguire.

Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho had been keen to strengthen his defence in the summer, with form and fitness issues having hampered United during the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

Mourinho reportedly considered Leicester’s England World Cup star a valid target in summer alongside Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld – but reportedly failed to persude executive vice-charirman Ed Woodward to make a a big-money move for either.

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The Portuguese’s desire to add a centre-back has seemingly not abated and United have been linked with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.

But Berbatov believes United should go for a player comfortable on the ball and already familiar with the Premier League if they are to make a move in the January transfer window.

And he says that Maguire, 25, would be an ideal candidate.

“It’s always difficult to buy someone that’s really good in the winter window so if you are lucky enough to buy someone then you need to keep in mind how he’s going to integrate with the team,” the Bulgarian told BT Sport .

“If it’s someone coming from a foreign league it can be more difficult than joining from an English team.

“If you’re buying a central defender then you also need to think about who you’re going to partner him with because you could buy a really good player but if it doesn’t work out then that just causes another problem.

“But I think they need someone at the back that’s comfortable on the ball and don’t buckle under pressure even when someone is attacking you.

“You need to be calm, be able to pass the ball into midfield and carry it. I think they need a player like that.

“I was really impressed with Harry Maguire in the World Cup because he was so composed on the ball and I like that quality in a defender because it benefits the whole team.”

United face Valencia in the Champions League on Wednesday evening with centre-back Victor Lindelof ruled out and a doubts over the fitness of Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly.

Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones have also had problems this season with Mourinho turning to midfielders Nemanja Matic and Scot McTominay to plug the gaps at times.

Sixth-placed United have conceded 26 Premier League goals during a troubled campaign, more than any other team in the top six.

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With Mesut Ozil seeing his value questioned at Arsenal and Alexis Sanchez facing a similar situation at Manchester United, Ray Parlour has floated the idea of another possible swap deal.

The Red Devils reached a trade agreement with their Premier League rivals in January as Sanchez arrived at Old Trafford and Henrikh Mkhitaryan moved in the opposite direction.

That switch has not proved as positive as Jose Mourinho was hoping, with a Chilean forward struggling to make his mark in Manchester.

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Another move has been rumoured, while Ozil is no longer considered to be key component of the Arsenal side as Unai Emery delivers positive results during an injury-enforced absence for the German.

Parlour believes the World Cup winner still has a role to play for the Gunners and cannot see an obvious fit in the transfer market, telling talkSPORT: “I still think he is a very important player for the squad.

“I don’t know how you value him, because you have got to look at his wages, he is on a reported £350,000 a week.

“Who is going to pay that money? I think you are going to find it really tough for someone to pay that sort of money in wages.”

Asked what Ozil could be worth, Parlour added: “To value Ozil in this market, I would say £40m to £50m.”

The former Arsenal star has, however, suggested that a swap deal could be considered by United.

That would allow them to move out one faltering star and bring in another creative influence, but whether any of those involved in the mooted agreement would be interested remains to be seen.

Parlour added on Ozil’s links to United: “Where would he fit in there though? Would he be a player that they need?

“They have tried one [Alexis] Sanchez haven’t they? Would they lose Sanchez and get in Ozil? Would there be a swap deal?

“I think it will come down to the wages. I would be surprised if they did.”

Arsenal tied Arsenal to a lucrative new contract in January, while Sanchez earned a considerable increase to his salary when penning a four-and-a-half-year deal at Old Trafford.

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