Manchester City’s latest star signing, Kolo Toure, is backing his new club to put in a strong challenge for top honours in the Premier League this season.

The Ivorian striker joins a star studded cast at Manchester City that includes new signings Gareth Barry, Stuart Taylor, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor.

“The target is to be as far as we can,” Toure told Sky Sports News. “Last season we were in the middle of the table. If we can make the top six or four that would be fantastic. We need to work for it.”

“The team want to progress and everything the club do is to make sure the club plays at the top of the league. That is a really good objective.”

“That is why I am here. The project is big. There are some great players here and we want to be near the top. It is going to be difficult and we will need to work at it.”

“They have a really great project and I want to do something. The future is big and it is a big challenge for me.”

Stewart Downing is backing Aston Villa for a top four finish in the 2009/2010 season following his transfer from Middlesbrough.

The England international suggested that his move to Aston Villa was partially motivated by the belief that his new team was capable of securing a place in the UEFA Champions League for the 2010/2011 football season.

“I think the aim should be Champions League,” Downing said on Aston Villa’s official website. “We were close last season and this time we should try to break up that top four. It would be great to have a good run in the Europa League too. I am certainly excited by the season ahead. It’s a big season for us.”

Downing is one of a handful of changes made to the Aston Villa squad that put in a strong challenge for 4th place in the Premiership last season, before their dreams of playing European football were dashed by a late-season capitulation that ultimately saw them finish 6th on the Premier League table.

“The prospect of playing in Europe was the first thing that came to mind when I heard Villa were interested,” Downing concluded. “It’s a strong squad that has pushed for the Champions League before. That was a massive draw for me.”

Bolton Wanderers are likely to field Korean import Lee Chung-Yong in the forthcoming Premier League season. The Korean wing represents a bargain in the transfer markets at a price of £2 million, and is headed to Bolton this week to undergo medical tests and negotiate a transfer to England.

Lee is said to have been a long-term target of Bolton manager Gary Megson, who has been looking to lure the Korean away from FC Seoul for some time.

“A deal has yet to be signed, but I will try to come back with good results,” Lee told reporters. “This could be my last match for Seoul and I am happy I could score. I had considered the transfer options several times because we have a good chance to be No.1 in Asia and Korea.”

A spokesperson from FC Seoul confirmed that the club is likely to part with Lee’s services this week, with the Korean waiting on the results of a medical before signing his transfer papers.

“We have decided to transfer Lee to Bolton, considering his promising future, even though the league is in full swing,” the Korean club said in a statement

Sunday, 15 March 2009
Aston Villa 1-2 Tottenham
Chelsea 1-0 Man City

Saturday, 14 March 2009
Arsenal 4-0 Blackburn
Bolton 1-3 Fulham
Everton 3-1 Stoke
Hull 1-1 Newcastle
Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool
Middlesbrough 1-1 Portsmouth
Sunderland 1-2 Wigan

Monday, 08 December 2008
Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 West Ham United

Sunday, 07 December 2008
Everton 2-3 Aston Villa
West Brom 1-1 Portsmouth
Saturday, 06 December 2008
Arsenal 1-0 Wigan
Blackburn 1-3 Liverpool
Bolton 0-2 Chelsea
Fulham 1-1 Man City
Hull 2-1 Middlesbrough
Man Utd 1-0 Sunderland
Newcastle 2-2 Stoke