Fabiano keen to remain in Spain despite City rumour

Seville's Fabiano is a target for Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson (AP)

Luis Fabiano wants to remain at Seville for at least the rest of the season despite reports of a possible transfer window move to Manchester City.

The striker was quoted in the Brazilian media earlier this week saying that negotiations with an English team were at an "advanced" stage and that it was a big opportunity for him. The Brazil international confirmed that several clubs were interested in him and claimed that Manchester City had made an offer, but he also said that he did not want to leave Seville at this stage of the campaign.

"At no point have I said that I want to leave Seville. The possibility exists, but I would like to finish the season [here]," he said. "There have been offers but I am very happy and I do not want to leave Seville in the middle of the season."

Spanish media have been reporting that City, Liverpool and Everton are among those interested in signing the striker, who is the joint-leading goalscorer in La Liga this season with 13.

The situation is not clear-cut though, with 65 per cent of Fabiano's rights being held by an investment group, and the Brazilian admitted that a move during the transfer window was still not out of the question. "We cannot discount anything because the group want to sell their stake and they have every right in the world to do it," he said.

Elsewhere, Damien Duff has made his long-awaited return to the Republic of Ireland squad for next month's friendly with Brazil. The Newcastle winger has not featured since a 1-0 win over Slovakia 10 months ago due to a foot injury which almost ended his career. But the 28-year-old has been included in the squad named by caretaker manager Don Givens.

Republic of Ireland squad (for friendly with Brazil at Croke Park on 6 February): Given (Newcastle), Murphy (Scunthorpe), Doyle (Birmingham); Kelly (Birmingham), O'Shea (Man Utd), A O'Brien (Bolton), J O'Brien (Bolton), Kilbane (Wigan), Dunne (Man City), McShane (Sunderland); Carsley (Everton), A Reid (Charlton), S Reid (Blackburn), McGeady (Celtic), Hunt (Reading), Miller (Sunderland), Duff (Newcastle); Keane (Tottenham), Doyle (Reading), Long (Reading), Murphy (Sunderland).