Latest Transfer Update at 09-05-2012

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Yaya Toure: Would like to end career at Barcelona

YAYA EYES BARCA RETURN IN FUTURE

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has reiterated his desire to finish his career back at former club Barcelona.
The Ivory Coast international spent three years at Barca before moving to City for a fee in the region of £24million in 2010.
Toure has been a big hit in Manchester and his two goals against Newcastle last weekend has put City on the verge of winning their first title since 1968, but the 28-year-old's long-term ambition remains a return to the Nou Camp.
He told Spanish radio station RAC1: "I said two years ago that I would return. It's been the most important team for me and if they call you don't think twice. I love Barcelona.


"In the press conference I did when I left I said I would return, in life you never know what will happen tomorrow, it's been the team of my life and I would like to finish my sporting career here. If I could return, it would be great."
Toure also believes Barca will be in good hands when Tito Vilanova replaces Pep Guardiola as coach this summer.
He said of Guardiola's decision to step down: "It was a little strange, because Guardiola has been a key person in the success of Barca in all these years. But we are all human and despite having done phenomenal things, he has decided to go.
"I know Tito very well and I think that he will apply the same philosophy as Pep. Tito is also a very good person, with a very similar idea of football. I think Tito is a good coach as well."

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Asamoah Gyan: Keeping options open

GYAN MIGHT NOT STAY IN UAE

Asamoah Gyan has cast doubt over his future by admitting it could lie "anywhere".
The 26-year-old is currently on a year-long loan deal with United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain after making a shock exit from Sunderland only a season into a four-year contract.
Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill has hinted the Ghanaian is unlikely to return to Wearside as the UAE club attempt to thrash out a permanent deal for a man whose temporary switch cost them around £6million.
However, despite chief executive Carlo Nohra having recently voiced his confidence that Gyan will stay, the man himself is determined to keep his options open.


Gyan told Sport.360: "Honestly, I'm very happy since I came here, everything seems to be perfect.
"Definitely if you go somewhere and everything there is perfect, you want to stay, but we are still in negotiations and we will have to wait and see until the end of my loan deal.
"It could be anywhere. I'm ready to go anywhere and I need to make the right decision. Any decision I make, I think, has to be the right decision for me, not for the people."
Gyan has scored 24 goals during his time in the UAE, 19 of them in 16 Pro-League appearances to help Al-Ain clinch the title.
Former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce had high hopes of his £13million-plus signing when he landed him in the wake of a series of impressive performances for his country at the 2010 World Cup finals.


He scored 11 goals in all competitions last season, but ended the campaign as the club's only fit specialist striker with Darren Bent having left for Aston Villa in January and with loan signing Danny Welbeck and Fraizer Campbell injured.
The summer brought rumours of a possible move away from the north-east, but Bruce thought the matter had been resolved before it emerged that he had left the club on loan in September.

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Stephen Craigan: End of the line

CRAIGAN CALLS TIME ON CAREER

Motherwell captain Stephen Craigan has announced he will retire after Sunday's final game of the season.
The 35-year-old Northern Ireland international has turned down a contract offer to remain at Fir Park and will instead work with the media after Sunday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League meeting with Dundee United.
Craigan said on the club's official website: "When I joined the club in 1994 I had no idea that I would spend the majority of my adult life and footballing career at Fir Park.


"My aim was to play football professionally and today I can say I achieved my goal and it's been a wonderfully satisfying journey.
"I take a lot of pride that I've represented the club 378 times and in wearing the claret and amber colours.
"It was a privilege to follow in the footsteps of some great players who've played not just at Fir Park over the years but at centre half.
"I want to thank all the players that I've played with throughout my career, past and present.
"At times I'm sure I was hard work but it was all for a good cause, winning.
"I've learned a great deal from all the managers I've worked under and I hope I set a good example for them with my work ethic."
Craigan is in his second spell with the Steelmen after a switch to Partick Thistle earlier in his career.
He has made 378 appearances in an 18-year career - 27 of them this season as Well finished third in the SPL - and featured 54 times for Northern Ireland.