Kolo Toure available for selection at Manchester City after completing a drugs ban

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure was given a six month suspension from football last March after failing a drugs test. Toure has completed his ban and is now available for first team selection under Roberto Mancini.  The defender claims he is ready to return and fight for his place in the first team. 


Toure: "I feel totally recharged and as fit as I've ever been in my life," "I know it won't be easy because the team is playing so well, but I'll be pushing hard for an opportunity. "I'm just so happy to be back and I will give everything I have to the team, this club and our fans. I can't wait to get going. "I will try and repay our amazing supporters for all their good wishes, kind words and support."

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Lyon confirm Gourcuff interest from Arsenal

French club Lyon have confirmed that Arsenal had made a loan enquiry for French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff before deadline day. Gourcuff has been a long term target of Arsene Wenger however Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas believes the midfielder still has a big part to play at Stade Gerland and rejected rejected Arsenal's enquiry for Gourcuff. 


Jean-Michel Aulas: "I got a call on the penultimate day of the transfer window from Gilles Grimandi asking for a loan," "We believe in re-establishing Yoann. He has been operated upon. He has just resumed training. "We have chosen Gourcuff, like last year. It was hard last season. Hopefully he will demonstrate his capabilities this term."

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Liverpool's first team coach Steve Clarke believes new signing Sebastian Coates is ready to be thrown into the first team

New Liverpool signing Sebastian Coates is ready to be thrown into Liverpool's first team according to coach Steve Clarke. The 20 year old has got great potential and displayed how good he is during Uruguay's Copa America success. Coates was awarded young player of the tournament and will certainly be pushing for a place in Liverpool's first team despite being only 20 years of age. 


Steve Clarke: "He's a full international and Uruguay are amongst the top five in the world, so they're a strong international team," 


"He's a talented youngster and gives us different options at the back. He's ready to play if required, but we've also got many other centre-halves ready to play if required. "You never really know how a foreign player coming into the English game is going to adapt. Some take a long time to adjust, while others like Luis Suarez come in and settle straight away. "You just keep an eye on it and hope the boy settles quickly, gets to know his team-mates, gets a few chances to play and then you build on it from there. 


"It'll be a different challenge for him because the English Premier League is a league that takes a little bit of getting used to, so hopefully we can nurse him along, get him ready and he'll be a valuable addition to the squad. 


"We look to sign young players that can improve and we looked at his performances throughout the Copa America when he was named Young Player of the Tournament. It's certainly exciting."


"We're basically a young team who are still getting to know each other and still working on strengths and weaknesses. "All over the team you can see little partnerships and combinations starting to form," "Hopefully over a period of time we'll improve and the team performances will improve too."

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BBC Gossip Column - Transfers and Rumours - Friday

Friday - BBC Gossip Column 

New Everton signing confident of being a success in the Premier League

Everton announced the loan signing of Real Madrid midfielder Royston Drenthe on a season long loan from Real Madrid yesterday. The midfielder believes he can be a success in the Premier League and that he has a lot to offer this season with Everton. The Dutch international has had very limited first team opportunities at Real Madrid and spent a lot of time out on loan at Hercules last season however the midfielder is confident that he can make an impact at Everton. 

Drenthe: "I think my qualities are English qualities, the way I play football," "I have technique and like to work hard. I think this competition is a perfect competition for me. "The Spanish league was a good league but different. It is not as fast, it is slow."Here it goes fast and I think that is more my style of play."

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Rooney backs De Gea to be a success at Old Trafford

Manchester United's new goalkeeper David De Gea hasn't got of to the greatest start to his career at  Old Trafford however he has received the backing of teammate Wayne Rooney to become a hit at United. Ferguson splashed out £18.3 million on the goalkeeper and he looks to be a long term successor of Edwin van der Sar. 


Rooney:  "David is obviously a good shot-stopper," "I hadn't seen much of him before he signed, but that was something I saw immediately. Also his passing out from the back is alongside Edwin's. He rarely kicks long to a forward. "He is still young and has probably got a lot to learn, but he is working hard and doing well in training."


"He is a strong character, "After the Manchester City game, and then West Brom, he didn't seem to be affected. "He was on the training pitch the next day, working hard. The last couple of games he's done well for us and he will only get better the more he plays."

 

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French champions Lille have rejected rumors linking midfielder Eden Hazard with a move to Liverpool following the arrival of Joe Cole

Joe Cole's arrival at Lille has sparked rumors claiming Lille midfielder Eden Hazard could be on his way to Anfield as part of the deal which would see Liverpool get the first option to sign Hazard. The Belgium youngster is regarded as one of the best young talents in Europe and has been linked with a host of clubs including Arsenal and Liverpool. Lille's general manager Frederic Paquet has rejected these rumors.

Frederic Paquet: "There is absolutely nothing in that,"  "There is no link between Joe Cole and Eden. There has been no discussion. "We know Eden Hazard is interesting some of the best clubs in Europe, but he is here and part of the project." 

Bendtner joins Sunderland on season long loan

Sunderland have completed the signing of Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner on a season long loan. Bendtner worked with manager Steve Bruce at Birmingham and Bruce believes the striker is an outstanding talent. Bendtner has struggled to establish himself as a first team regular at Arsenal and this good be a chance for the Dane to get a good run of games. 


Steve Bruce: "I've had the privilege of working with Nicklas previously. I had him as an 18-year-old and he helped clinch promotion for Birmingham. "He's an outstanding talent and is a big, physical presence who will lead the line magnificently for us." 

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Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta has joined Arsenal for £10m

Arsenal announced the signing of Spanish star Mikel Arteta just minutes after the transfer deadline. Arsenal's initial bid was reportedly rejected and the deal seemed to have fallen through but Arsenal stepped up their interest and clinched the deal. Arteta has signed a four-year contract and can bring great experience to the Arsenal side. 

The midfielder managed to score 27 goals in 161 appearances. 

Arteta has defended his move to Arsenal: "It is a big opportunity for me and my family and I think it is the right time for me to take it," said Arteta. "I am 29 years old so I haven't got much time left to take a chance like this one. I think I have done my best for Everton."It is a big challenge, a different challenge, fresh for me and I want to see myself on the biggest stage, the Champions League. "I always try hard, I have been as professional as I could and I was grateful for the support and the love that the club and the fans showed me."

David Moyes was also disappointed with Arteta's departure: "I am very disappointed to lose him but the prospect of Champions League football was something I wasn’t able to offer him.”

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