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TOURE'S AGENT HITS OUT AT BARCA

Yaya Toure is considering his Barcelona future but will not be signing for Arsenal, according to the midfielder's agent.

The Ivory Coast international recently stated his commitment to the European champions following speculation surrounding his future.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Toure in the past and a fresh approach has been mooted this summer.

However, Toure's agent, Dmitri Seluk, has claimed the 26-year-old has received more attractive offers from elsewhere, with Manchester City said to be interested.

"There are many teams interested in Toure," Seluk told Sport.

"He will not go to Arsenal because he has better offers and nor will he go to Germany, but his future could be in Italy or in England.

Seluk continued: "Barca have not complied with the gentleman's agreement that we reached.

"(Barca president) Laporta says that Valdes is the best goalkeeper in the world, the same about (Lionel) Messi, with Xavi, with (Andres) Iniesta... but with Toure, never anything,

"If he is not good enough to play in this team then that will be that.

"He has spent two seasons earning a minimum salary. He earns less than many of the first-team regulars and less even than some of those that hardly play at all.

"We have put our faith in the word of the club, but they have not respected it.

"Clearly he is a professional and if the club do not respect him then he would to go and that would be a shame because he feels at home at the club and in the city. He has adapted marvellously.

"Toure has done everything for Barca and always thinks about the team. He has never cause any problems and remember that last season he played a number of games while injured.

"This term, after Rafa Marquez picked up an injury, he played as a centre back and did so without complaining, while (Seydou) Keita, for instance, said he did not want to play at left-back in the UEFA Champions League final.

"Therefore, I think Toure deserves more recognition on the part of Barca."

BENITEZ - I HAVE ENOUGH CASH

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has revealed he was fully aware of the club's financial problems before he signed his new five-year contract in March.

And a defiant Benitez insists he is happy with his transfer budget and still aims to bring in "one or two" top signings ahead of next season.

The Liverpool boss was speaking in the wake of the release of the club's worrying financial figures last week, underlining the need for prudence in the transfer market.

The damaging financial reality hit home when accounts, for the season 2007-08, showed Kop Holdings lost £42.6million on the year.

Kop Holdings is the company set up by under-fire American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to run Liverpool.

Although the football club made a £10million profit, that money was swallowed up in paying the interest on the loans taken out by the Americans to buy the club.

Benitez reveals he was working last season to tie key players to new contracts, fully aware of the financial straits at the club that would be exposed this summer.

He said: "We spent some money to solve that situation, to guarantee the extension of those contracts. Now we need to improve a little bit because we are in a very good position.

"Yes, we knew it would be difficult, especially as there is a (financial) crisis all around the world.

"But when I decided to sign a five-year extension to my contract, I knew in my own mind that Liverpool is more than just a club, it is the heart of the city. It is our life.

"It means so much to a lot of people. We had to sign, we have to fight, we have to do it because we wanted to do it. The people in Liverpool are always fighters, they have done that all their lives.

"We know that. We also knew that the (financial) situation was not fantastic. But we still have a lot of confidence in our squad and we want to fight (for the title) again next season."

Benitez, who has also dismissed claims he wants Napoli's Argentinian striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, continued: "Every single year, every single week, every single day you can always talk to fans who say they are supporting you, supporting the team.

"You can see the passion is so strong and that makes a massive difference. This city has great passion, Everton fans have similar passion for their club and that is really good and our fans are amazing.

"When I talk with people in Spain (they are aware of it). Now we will go to the Far East in the summer and we will see the same thing, so many people talking about us and the club.

"It shows to me that this place is more than just a football club. It is clear that it is life to so many people."

Benitez again maintained Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso is not for sale and he will fight to ensure Javier Mascherano does not fall into the hands of European champions Barcelona following remarks from the Argentinian's agent today suggesting a deal would suit the player.

Benitez said: "Our position is very clear. We want to keep our best players and Xabi has done really well for us.

"Alonso has three years left on his contract so he is not for sale."

And, concerning the financial restraints, Benitez is now crucially talking about only "one or two" additions to his squad.

He added: "I will not give any figures (about spending power) and I will keep working without saying anything on that.

"But we do not have too much money, that is clear. But we have enough money to add one or two players that we need.

"I am very happy with the squad, they have been really good and we have competed on every front so, if we can sign one or two players, I am really positive and believe that we can improve.

"I am also positive because I have spoken about Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard not playing in the same side too many times and I hope that will change.

"We have a very good squad if we can improve just a little bit. How much do we need to improve to win a title, will it be enough?

"Certainly it will be enough to compete like last season and again we will try to compete for all the trophies right to the end.

"We have always known the (financial) situation around the world would be difficult and we would see clubs asking about some of our players.

"So the priority was to keep the key players here on new (long-term) contracts. The players who are the spine of the team."

Topal would love to swap Galatasaray for Everton

Everton target Mehmet Topal says it is his dream to play in the English Premier League.

The Galatasaray midfielder has been linked with the Toffees and would love a chance to show his wares in England.

"The Premier League is my dream league,” Topal is quoted as saying.

“It is full of pace and is very physical.

“But of course I'd like to play football in England.”

Steven Fletcher is hoping that Tony Mowbray's imminent arrival as Bhoys boss will see a possible move to Glasgow back on the agenda.

A target for Gordon Strachan in January, the Scotland striker remained at Hibernian after a bid for his services was turned down.

Now, with his former Easter Road manager Mowbray set to succeed Strachan, Fletcher has said: "I want to push myself to further my career and if that means moving on from Hibs, then so be it.

"If I'm good enough, then happy days. If I'm not, then we'll see what happens."

He added: "Tony was a big help for me. I was just breaking through at Hibs when he was there and he knew when to play me and when I needed a rest.

"He was a massive influence on my career, not just as a manager, but as a friend, too.

"I was just a young boy and it was a bit daunting going into the first-team dressing room, but he was great."

et again silly season has arrived and as usual we at SheWore are putting together the complete list of players linked to The Arsenal over the summer transfer window. Some players will be linked by their agents to up the players wages, some by clubs wanting to increase the players sell on price, but players will be mainly linked to us to sell a few newspapers and get a few hits on Internet sites...

The list so far...

A.
B. Barry, Bassong, Babel, Barnetta, Buffon
C. Cana, Chamakh, Chiellini
D. Dzeko, De La Red, Delph
E.
F.
G. Genter, Gomis
H. Hangeland, Huntelaar, Henry (!)
I.
J. Johnson
K.
L.
M. Mbia, Melo de Carvalho, Matuidi
N.
O.
P. Pandev, (Yohann) Pele
Q.
R.
S. Santa Cruz, Sakho, Saviet, Shelvey
T. Toure (Yaya), Thompson (from Swindon), Tuncay
U.
V. Veloso, Vermaelen, Villa
W. Wheater
X. Xavi Alonso
Y.
Z. Zapata

According to the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper, FSV Mainz 05 general manager, Christian Heidel, said "Everything is said, this is a done deal."

Christian Heidel said that Muller will go head-to-head with Dimo Wache for the number one position, but there would be no guarantee Muller would be starting the first game.

Dimo Wache, 35, has played 333 games over the last decade for Mainz, but will face stiff competition in the form of Heinz Muller.

The fee is a reported E600,000 (£500,000).

Most likely Luke Steele will now be wearing the number one shirt for the new season

Who does everyone support?