Pep not sure Yaya would renew contract..

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola ducked questions about whether the club will offer midfield linchpin Yaya Toure a new contract at the end of the season, despite describing the Ivoirian as an exceptional player.

The 33-year-old, whose current contract expires at the end of the season, has had a rollercoaster year with Guardiola since the later arrived in the summer, and both are hardly seen as close.

Largely considered City's most influential player since he was sold to the club in 2010 by Guardiola - while both were at Barcelona, Yaya was not only shunned by the Spaniard at the start of the season, but was shockingly excluded from the UEFA Champions League squad.

The four-time African Player of the Year was then banned from the first team when his agent Dmitri Seluk questioned what he saw as Guardiola's humiliation of his player and club legend.

Yaya has since been reinstated in the side and has posted some powerful performances. He was especially good on Sunday when City came from a goal down to beat title rivals Arsenal 1:2 in the league, prompting questions about whether he will be offered a new deal.

I have no answer to that question, Guardiola replied.

I know he finishes his contract. Now we have time to discuss that.

What I am impressed by most is his huge quality. He looks like a boy. He played awesome. It is not in terms of when he has the ball but the personality.

Yaya plays at that level because he is fit and focused. He is an exceptional player.

Arsenal Linked with Highly-rated Ajax Midfielder The highly rated Ajax midfielder has also been linked with Barcelona and Wolfsburg

Transfer Gist:
Arsenal Linked with Highly-rated Ajax Midfielder
The highly rated Ajax midfielder has also been linked with Barcelona and Wolfsburg, and will be on the move when the winter window opens in January.
Arsenal-linked Riechedly Bazoer is in the "final phase" of talks regarding a January transfer, Ajax head coach Peter Bosz has revealed.
The highly rated midfielder has emerged as a winter target for several leading clubs, with Barcelona and Wolfsburg also reported to be closely monitoring his situation.

Bazoer, at just 20 years of age, is already an established performer, with over 60 club appearances to his name and six senior caps for the Netherlands.
Since breaking through at Ajax while still in his teens, the youngster’s profile has risen considerably across Europe.
He is now set to open a new chapter in his promising career, with Bosz conceding that a move elsewhere is imminent.
"Riechedly and I had a good conversation on Saturday afternoon,” he told the club’s official website.
"He reported that his transfer is in the final phase – and I also understand this from Marc [Overmars, director of football].
"He has a view to a new club, which is why we gave him freedom from training to work with players who are focused on our next opponent.

Super Eagles captain, John Obi Mikel is said to be in talks with French Ligue1 side, Olympique de Marseille.

Talks between the Nigeria int'l and the French club is at an advance stage for a possible move in January on a free.

According to the People Digest Magazine, Super Eagles gaffer, Gernot Rohr hinted that Mikel is discussing with Marseille.

“I saw him in London. He is in advanced discussions with Marseille. Chelsea will allow him to leave for free. It is a serious option for him.

Transfer Gist (England)

John Terry has been offered a lucrative contract to join Chinese Super Club side Shanghai Shenhua.
The club captain of Chelsea, John Terry might be making his way to the Chinese Super League as the veteran player has recently been linked with Guangzhou Evergrande and considering his current situation in the English outfit, there is a realistic chance of the experienced defender making his way out of Stamford Bridge and ending his playing career with the club that he made his debut with back on 1998.