Tevez: I could stay for more than two years

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini claims the five remaining days in the summer transfer window will be vital to his club’s fate this season but one player finally looks to be settled with the Premier League champions.

Carlos Tevez, the City forward who spent much of last season refusing to play for the club, now insists he wants to stay at Eastlands beyond the two years remaining on his current contract.

The Argentinian forward’s impressive form continued at Liverpool where he scored City’s second, following a horrendous error by home defender Martin Skrtel, to secure his side a point in a 2-2 draw.

“Yeah, I’d have no problem staying,” said Tevez. “My family is here, my children are here, I’m happy, my wife is happy. I have two years on my contract and, yeah, I could stay longer.

“The new season is good for me. I have lost seven kilos [15 pounds], so that’s good for me and the club.

“Last year was difficult for me. After I came back, I played and we were champions. That was the best bit of last season.

“A year ago, was the most difficult bit. Now is now. The problems of last season are finished. Now I’m happy, Roberto is happy, the club is happy. The problem is finished.”

“Carlos is on good form at the moment and I’m happy for him,” said Mancini.

“He’s important for us and I hope he continues as he has for the last two or three games. If he plays like that of course he can stay ... sure!”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was positive despite his side giving away two soft goals.

“My glass is very nearly full,” he said. “I thought it was a brilliant performance. We were asked a lot of questions and I thought the players were incredible. Sometimes the best team doesn’t win.

“Let’s remember we were playing a good side.”

With his passing ethos in mind, Rodgers also cleared Skrtel of blame after his backpass fell short to allow Tevez in for his goal.

“He was brave enough to play it and that’s the development of the team. As a group we will only get better,” Rodgers said.

With only five days remaining in the transfer window, Mancini wants Swansea’s Scott Sinclair to be the first of a few signings.

“We have our targets and I hope we can close them in the next five days,” he said.