Tayls and Jose - keen to stay

In amongst the swathe of departures, Steven Taylor and Jose Enrique have spoken openly over their desire to stay at SJP. Taylor`s insistence is nothing new, with his apparent lack of desire for a move believed to have scuppered Everton and Aston Villa`s attempts to sign him. Enrique however has been seriously touted for a move back to Spain, with the likes of Zaragoza and Athletico Madrid both having been linked in recent weeks. However it seems both are desperate to stay.

Jose said: "All the time I read in the papers that I will go here or there, but I`m happy here. I want to get this club back into the Premier League because I think we can get back there. I listen to talk about a lot of players coming and going but I want to stay.

Everything here is great - except we now play in the Championship! I was happy at Villarreal but I preferred to sign for Newcastle. They offered me a better contract and there were many famous names here - Michael Owen, Oba Martins and others. I thought I would be playing Champions League football here - now I play in the Championship. It`s strange! But I like to think I can still play in the Champions League one day with Newcastle.

Yes, I`m like any other player: if Barcelona came for me, of course I would want to go. In reality though, I want to play for Newcastle, and I know that if I want to play in the Champions League, we`ll have to get back to the Premier League.

Of course, we have to get out of the Championship first, and the teams in this division play a different type of football. The Premier League is a harder challenge, but this is a different challenge. There are more quick balls played straight up to the strikers. It`s similar to the Premier League in some ways, but with worse players."

Meanwhile Tayls said: 'I'm going nowhere. I'm a Geordie and this is my club. This is where I want to be. I've heard all the talk about me leaving in the past couple of weeks, but no-one has contacted either me or my representatives and that suits me down to the ground.

I've even heard I'll be going in the January transfer window, but as far as I'm concerned I'll be here for the rest of the season - and longer if possible. I am committed to Newcastle United and I hope I prove that every time I pull on the black and white shirt.'

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