Tevez In Demand For Europe's Big Guns

It may have been his controversial transfer to Upton Park which sparked as many back page newspaper headlines as his goal-grabbing antics which saved West Ham United from relegation but Carlos Tevez now looks certain to be packing his bags for a second successive summer and making the move to a real European giant that we thought had passed him by twelve months ago.

A shaky start to his Premiership career exploded into a final couple of months of goals which helped the Hammers keep their Premiership status and rebuilt the career status of the little Argentinian who had left Brazilian club Corinthians under an ownership cloud and, quite unbelievably, landed in the East End of London pledging to push West Ham United onto European qualification alongside international teammate Javier Mascherano.

English football watchers will know that it didn't quite work out as planned on that front but with Inter Milan weighing up a massive £34m move which completely eclipses the proposed £12m offer from Manchester United and interest lingering from Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid, Tevez looks set for a chance to shine at a club with real aspirations of silverware rather than another season long brush with relegation in the bottom tier of the English Premiership.

I'm ready for Barca challenge, says Toure

Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure said he was ready for the challenge ahead after the new Barcelona signing was presented to the press on Tuesday.

Toure, who cost the Spanish giants nine million euros (12 million dollars) from Monaco, became Barca's second summer signing following that of former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry.

The 24-year-old, the younger brother of Arsenal centre-back Kolo Toure, signed for four years and is reported to be earning around 1.8 million euros a year.

"I feel ready for the challenge. I really wanted to play in a club like this and I'm going to give it my all," said Toure.

Barca president Joan Laporta was delighted with his latest acquisition.

"He is one of those players that are vital to have," said Laporta. "He has got a great future, he's strong physically, good technically. He has eveything to become a talisman for Barca."

Barcelona had wrapped up the signing on Monday night, after earlier showing off new star capture Henry in front of more than 20,000 fans.

Toure joined Monaco in August 2006 having previously played for Greek side Olympiakos.

source: World Soccer