Everton FC defender Sylvain Distin insists he is not holding out for a two-year contract

Sep 29 2011 by Neil Jones, Liverpool Echo

SYLVAIN DISTIN insists reports suggesting he is holding out for a new two-year contract at Everton are wide of the mark, and says he would be happy to sign a one-year deal at Goodison Park.

Stories circulated earlier this week claiming the French defender had been offered a one-year extension to his current deal, but that he was hoping to be handed an extra year as reward for his consistent form.

But the 34-year-old, whose current Blues deal expires at the end of this season, says he has made no such demands, and that he is happy to commit his future to the club.

Disitn said: “I read today in the newspaper that I was asking for a two-year contract. I am not sure where that has come from but it is completely untrue, and I would like to rectify that.

“I am happy with one-year. If Everton want to give me two then that is all good, but I am really happy with one.”

Distin has been a virtual ever-present at Goodison since joining the club from Portsmouth in 2009, and is certain to start Saturday lunchtime’s Merseyside derby with Liverpool.

There, he will come face to face for the first time with Luis Suarez, who has been in sensational form for the Reds this season.

Distin, however, insists that he will have no fears.

He added: “Luis seems to be a great player, an amazing player with great quality who can score goals. But he won’t be the first great striker I have played against.

“I have been here for 10 years, I don’t know how many games I have played, but I have played against players like Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres. I could give you 20 or 50 names of top strikers I have played against.

“I played against (Edin) Dzeko and Aguero last weekend, so it is just going to be another good challenge, and one which I will enjoy. I can’t wait.

“I actually think Aguero and Suarez are very similar in the way they are built physically, and the way they play. It will be another good test.”

Everton managed to keep the free-scoring Aguero relatively quiet for more than hour at Eastlands on Saturday, but Distin expects to see a much more attacking performance this weekend, as David Moyes’ side chase all three points.

“There was a lot of defending to do (at Manchester City) but that was just a one-off game,” he said.

“It is not the Everton style.

“We play our football and try to win the game. That is a strength of ours.

“It is a home game as well, so we will not be going out just to defend. We want to win.”