Football transfer news

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has claimed he would love nothing more than to finish his career at the Etihad Stadium.

The powerful Ivorian has become one of the most sought-after players in Europe following a series of robust performances in the middle of the park and he was instrumental in City’s title winning side last season.

Roberto Mancini’s side have endured a difficult start to the defence of their title, suffering a last-gasp 3-2 defeat to neighbours Manchester United whilst also slumping out of the Champions League without a win in Group D, but that has not put the former Barcelona man off.

“I would love to end my career here,” Toure told the club’s official website.
“Nobody knows what the next step is in football and I believe that if you stop dreaming, you should stop playing football, but this is where I want to be.

“When I first arrived at City, every time I went to sleep I would dream about us winning something and about us being the best team in whatever competition we take part in.

“I believe I have to work harder all the time to improve and stay at the top level with this club. I will give my all every time I play and I will never forget how the fans have treated me here so nothing would give me greater pleasure than to finish my career as a Manchester City player.”

Toure picked up a knock in the defeat against United on Sunday, but is likely to return to the midfield at St James’ Park, where his double last season put City within touching distance of their first top-flight title since 1967-68.

Mancini’s side memorably clinched the title in the dying seconds of the season, but Toure has set his sights on European domination in spite of their early elimination this time round.

“We want to make history and that was part of my plan when I first signed – to make history – and we’ve made a start but there is so many more chapters to be written,” added the Ivorian.

“I’m really enjoying my football here and I’m playing in front of the most amazing fans I’ve ever come across.

“Ending my playing career at City would be unbelievable, but I know it won’t be easy because we want to win everything and the club is always looking to improve.

“There is no other place I would rather finish with and I want to continue winning titles and trophies with City. I believe we are just at the beginning of our journey.”

Former Manchester United winger Willie Morgan has urged Sir Alex Ferguson to snap up Liverpool’s teenage sensation Raheem Sterling.

The Reds’ midfielder, who only turned 18 earlier this month, is currently at a stand-off with the Anfield club over contract negotiations and the 68-year-old believes he would be the perfect replacement for Nani, should he be shown the exit door at Old Trafford.

It would be a sensational signing for United, who have enquired about the England international’s availability, as the two clubs have not done business since Phil Chisnall’s switch to Anfield way back in 1964.

Morgan made 236 appearances for United from 1968 to 1975, scoring on 25 occasions and told the Manchester Evening News: “Sterling is the first winger I have seen in a long time who looks like a proper winger. He looks very good already and I think he is going to be great.

“If you just let him go wide on the outside of the full-backs all the time I think he will be a great player.

“He’ll frighten people to death, so long as nobody coaches it out of him. He’s the brightest prospect out there and would suit United.”

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is desperate to keep hold of his hottest prospect, who won his first senior cap in England’s 4-2 defeat against Sweden last month.

Morgan believes signing Sterling would continue a long-standing tradition of quick wide men at Old Trafford, with George Best, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo going before him.

“It’s traditional United and is a great weapon,” he added.

“Having two wingers going at a defence is exactly what opponents struggle to cope with these days.

“Full-backs generally are not good defenders any more. They are not equipped to deal with marking an out-and-out winger these days. They are half-baked forwards.

“Any side with wingers who can play are a winning team as far as I am concerned. It was good to see United use them at City and they really did stretch them.”

Marek Hamsik has made it clear that he is not thinking about leaving Napoli in the near future, saying he is happy with life at his current club.

The Slovakia international has been regularly linked with a move away from the Partenopei, but Hamsik is focused on doing well for his team.

“I am feeling very well at Napoli. I’m happy and satisfied with the way things are going,” the attacking midfielder was quoted as saying by Corriere dello Sport.

“I am not thinking about leaving Napoli for another club. The rumours linking me with other clubs don’t affect me. I read things, but I don’t know anything about it.

“I still have a contract with Napoli and there’s no reason for me to leave. The club’s still growing and we’re playing well.”

Hamsik’s contract with the Stadio San Paolo side runs until June 2016.

Joe Cole has vowed to fight for his Liverpool career after coming to the rescue in Sunday’s thrilling 3-2 comeback win at former club West Ham.

Cole came off the bench to score his first goal in 20 months and hopes his strike can revitalise what has been a largely unsuccessful Anfield career to date.

With reports that Daniel Sturridge and Thomas Ince could soon join the club, further first-team opportunities for the 31-year-old appear slim, but he is desperate to prove himself to Brendan Rodgers.

He told The Mirror: “All I’m doing is giving my all in training every day, and trying to keep my place in the squad when we play [Aston] Villa – that’s all I can do.

“It has been difficult recently but I have scored in my last two appearances and I want to keep the sequence going if I can. And when I’m called upon I will do the best job I can.”

Rodgers recently hinted that it may be in the player’s best interests to move, with Harry Redknapp reportedly keen to bring Cole to struggling QPR.

The Ulsterman said: “Joe’s a terrific lad and I feel for him at times.

“If he’s not going to play as often as he wants then he’s no different to any player, really.

“Players are about game time and money. He’s a good guy though – he’s not any kind of problem.”

Barcelona have reached an agreement with young attacker Cristian Tello over a new contract which will run until the summer of 2016.

The 21-year-old’s previous deal was due to expire at the end of the 2012-13 campaign, and both parties had been in talks over a new and improved deal, eventually leading to a three-year extension which was confirmed on the club’s official website.

A minimum release clause of €10 million has been included in his new contract, and Tello is due to put pen to paper on the deal at the Barcelona headquarters on Monday, December 17.

Tello is a product of the Barcelona youth academy and also played for Damm and Espanyol before returning to the Camp Nou side in the summer of 2010.

The Spain Under-21 star made his official first team debut in the Copa del Rey match against Hospitalet in November 2011, and has made 16 official appearances for Barca this term, scoring three goals in the process.