Nigel de Jong has declared himself happy at Manchester City and believes he is in a "good position" with regards to his contract, which is moving into its final season.
There has been plenty of speculation over the future of the 27-year-old midfielder due to his failure thus far to agree a new deal at the club he joined from Hamburg in 2009 for a fee reported to be around £18million.
But the Holland international has told Dutch magazine NU Sport he wants to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
"My contract runs for another year, so I'm in a pretty good position," he said.
"I would like to stay. I've been at the club for more than three years and I'm enjoying myself.
"I have won the two biggest trophies in England - the FA Cup and the league title.
"I've seen the club develop from total chaos with the training facilities into a top club, and that's very satisfying to see."
De Jong started only 11 league games last term, having battled an ankle problem early on and then struggled to break back into the side.
However, he played a key role in City's late charge to the title as they overturned Manchester United's eight-point advantage in the final month of the campaign.
"It is part of the job that I sometimes sit on the bench," De Jong said. "We have a rotation system. Ideally I would play in every game, but the team comes first and we won the title, so it was all worth it." Independent
Lescott stands tall for England after Terry-Ferdinand furore
England ensured safe passage to the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 with a 1-0 victory over Ukraine on Tuesday evening, a hard-fought three points that saw Roy Hodgson’s side soak up a great deal of pressure exerted by the co-hosts. It was a game that required and received a sturdy defence, with Manchester City’s Joleon Lescott central to it.
Lescott was in danger of becoming the forgotten man in England’s defensive unit. The build-up to the tournament and the announcement of the squad itself was dominated by rumours surrounding the possible inclusion and exclusion of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, and then by the fall-out due to the involvement of the former and not the latter. Then as that particular furore died down came the double fractured jaw suffered by Terry’s Chelsea teammate Gary Cahill in the final pre-tournament friendly against Belgium, depriving Hodgson of another option in defence. While every manager no doubt desires as many alternatives as is practical, the absence of Ferdinand and Cahill has allowed Lescott to flourish.
The former Everton defender has arguably kept up the good form that began during City’s successful assault on the Premier League. When revealing Lescott had been ranked highly for his performances in the opening two Euro 2012 games by Fabio Capello’s player rating index, the Manchester Evening News wrote: “[Lescott], who along with Vincent Kompany provided the foundation for City's Premier League title success, has looked solid for Roy Hodgson's side so far,” while the Guardian quoted Lescott’s City teammate Micah Richards as describing Lescott as the best English defender on show last season. Richards said: “I can't name an English centre-half who has had a better season. He just doesn't get the credit he's due and I don't know why that is. I really don't know. All I can say is that if you watch our games he's been unbelievable.”
The same Guardian article that quotes Richards also reveals that as of the time of publication, June 5, Lescott had only once before started three consecutive international games. Lescott has since recorded that feat again through the three group D games and, barring injury will make it a fourth appearance in a row in the quarter-final with Italy. England reached that point by conceding three goals in as many games, one against France and two against Sweden, while Lescott was on target in the opening match against Laurent Blanc’s side, confirming that his contribution has been felt at both ends of the pitch. That goal incidentally renders Lescott as England’s joint-highest scorer, as all the other players to find the net have also done so on a single occasion.
Defending is nevertheless a team effort and Lescott’s colleagues deserve praise too, not only for some of their individual performances but for easing the lesser-experienced Lescott into the side. Yet if the issues around Ferdinand were not so complicated and Cahill had not injured his jaw, the City defender would be sitting on the bench, a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change at international level.
Manchester United fan puts 'KUN 16' numberplate up for sale after Sergio Aguero wins title for City
A United fan is selling his unusual licence plate – and hopes City star Sergio Aguero will make the biggest bid.
Dafydd Ryder Owen, 27, bought the plate – KUN 16 – after he heard rumours the Argentinian striker was going to sign for his beloved Reds.
Instead Aguero, whose nickname ‘Kun’ appears on the back of his shirt, signed for rivals the Blues last summer – leaving Dafydd being mocked by both United and City-supporting pals. His squad number for his country Argentinia - and City - is 16.
Bank worker Dafydd says that after United’s 6-1 home defeat to City last season, in which Aguero scored the third goal, having the personalised reg on his car became unbearable.
And the sight of the numberplate has become unbearable after Aguero scored the last-gasp goal which snatched the title away from United.
He said: “I’ve got loads of stick from my friends. I paid in the thousands for the plate, but to be honest I am still seething after that humiliating loss at Old Trafford.”
Dafydd hopes Aguero, whose last-gasp goal against QPR ripped the Premier League title from the Reds and made City champions, will take the plate off his hands.
And to sweeten the deal he has said he will donate half the sale price to a children’s charity. He said: “I want to sell it, and if Sergio buys it, I am willing to give 50 per cent of the proceeds to UNICEF.”
Aguero’s father-in-law Diego Maradona is a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. His nickname was coined by his grandparents who thought he looked like the Japanese cartoon character Kun Kun as a child.
Dafydd, from Wales, said: “I am sure some wealthy Manchester City fan would snap it up.
“But it would be cracking for Kun, and it’s only fair to offer it to the player first.
“If he was to buy them, a donation to UNICEF only seems fitting.”
[spoiler]Yolanthe Cabau
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has signed for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua on a two-and-a-half year deal.
He will team up again at Shanghai with ex-Blues colleague Nicolas Anelka.
Drogba, 34, said: "I considered all the offers I have received in the past few weeks, but feel Shanghai Shenhua is the right move for me at this time."
The Ivory Coast forward's last act in a Chelsea shirt was scoring the winning penalty in the Champions League final defeat of Bayern Munich in May.
Championship side Brighton sign Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak on a free transfer from Manchester United. Kuszczak tells Brighton's official website: "The Premier League is where I want to be again and I believe I can get there with Brighton. The club is heading in only one direction."
AC Milan are considering a move for Liverpool's 29-year-old Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Full story: Daily Mail
Sunderland are winning the race to sign striker Louis Saha, 33, who is a free agent after leaving Tottenham, ahead of interest from the Middle East. Daily Mirror
West Ham have upped their bid to land Grant Holt, 31, to £5.5m after seeing a £3m offer rejected by Norwich. the Sun
Newcastle are ready to seal a deal for FC Twente striker Luuk de Jong, 21, by paying £9m but have failed to sign France right-back Mathieu Debuchy, 26, from Lille. Daily Mail
Clint Hill, 33, signs a one-year deal at QPR - snubbing a switch to Leeds. the Sun
Tottenham have had direct negotiations with former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas and they are poised to offer him a deal to succeed Harry Redknapp. Guardian
The Italian potential owners of Watford have indicated former Chelsea forward Gianfranco Zola could become the new manager of the Hornets. Watford Observer
Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney may have inadvertently revealed the secret behind his match-winning performance against Ukraine - a middle-of-the-road pre-match playlist. Metro
BETTING BOLOX
Man City worth avoiding as first side on MOTD next season
Champions are favourites but could see fixture rescheduled for live coverage
As Manchester City prepare to kick off their first defence of the Premier League title, Ladbrokes afford their Eastlands clash with Southampton 5/2 favouritism to be the first match shown on this season’s Match of the Day.
However, with opening televised fixtures of last year being spread across three days, the Citizens could be worth avoiding in this market.
It is worth noting that last year’s defending champions, Manchester United, kicked off their season away to West Brom last term, in a match shown live on Sky on Sunday.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are 3/1 to kick off Match of the Day this coming season, as they travel to Goodison Park to entertain Everton.
Whilst it may be unlikely that City will have to wait until Monday to kick off their campaign, as they did last season, a ‘Super Sunday’ featuring both Manchester clubs seems a plausible broadcast option for Sky.
Meanwhile, only one Premier League match was televised live on the opening Saturday of the season last term, as Newcastle welcomed Arsenal to St. James’s Park live on ESPN.
Newcastle are 4/1 to feature first on the BBC’s highlight show this season, as they prepare for a home meet with a Tottenham side under new management.
That match could also be appealing for live broadcasters, whilst Champions League winners Chelsea are 9/2 to open this season’s Match of the Day at home to Wigan.
Of those less popular in the market to open the show, it is a huge 18/1 that newly-promoted Reading start the BBC flagship production, as they host Stoke in their first game of the campaign.
Fulham vs Norwich is a 14/1 chance to begin the show, whilst West Ham are 12/1 to open MOTD in a home tie with Aston Villa, on their return to the Premier League.
Arsenal could prove dark horses to start the show meanwhile, as it is 6/1 that their side, likely awash with new signings, open Match of the Day against Sunderland at the Emirates.
More bollox later ....
