[goldenHuddlestone]

Sevilla full-back Daniel Alves has revealed he is close to agreeing a deal to extend his contract until 2012. The 23-year-old Brazilian told Spanish daily Marca he was hoping to put pen to paper "as soon as possible," and added that there were only a "few details to be settled."

"They [the club] have given me their word that we will reach an agreement and Im not worried about it any more. Im happy here and we have made a giant step to overwhelm my expectations."

Alves revealed that the impressive results turned in by the club over the last two seasons have played a major role in persuading him to stay at the Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan, especially in view of the hike in salary a transfer would have brought.

"If we had not achieved the level of success, the negotiations would have been more complicated, as there is a difference between what I was offered elsewhere and what I will earn at Sevilla, but Im very happy. Sevilla has improved each year, with a very ambitious strategy, and footballers want to be part of these projects; theres no doubt I owe these things and my call-up up to the [Brazilian] national team to my team-mates."

Alves also showed himself to be optimistic regarding his sides hopes of challenging for the Liga title this year.

"We dont have to worry about being top now, but if we maintain this level then we will be fighting for the title. If you look back, not so long ago, nobody was even thinking about winning a European Super Cup against Barcelona," he commented. Sevilla currently lie second in the league, a point behind leaders Barcelona.

[theo kawala]

Hears of this player it was said he was moving to Liverpool in the summer. Is that right?