Victor Anichebe insists he remains committed to Everton and wants to resolve his contract wrangle.
Toffees ace upset by negative reaction
Everton star Victor Anichebe insists he remains committed to the club and wants to resolve his contract wrangle at Goodison Park.
Reports emanating over the weekend suggested Anichebe, who is in the final six months of his current contract, had rejected a lucrative new deal to extend his stay at Everton.
It had been claimed by some mischievous reports that the highly-rated striker had shunned a three-year extension on £30,000 a week.
As a result of the misleading reports Anichebe found himself jeered by a section of the Everton faithful when he came off the bench against Wigan on Saturday.
Anichebe is in the dark as to where the rumours of his contract negotiations came from and is keen to set the record straight to the Everton fans.
A number of clubs across the continent are thought to be monitoring Anichebe's situation at Goodison Park as, with the player turning 23 in April, under Fifa regulations he could leave Everton for free when his contract expires next summer.
However, Anichebe is keen to sort out his future and stay at Everton if everything can be agreed.
"Obviously, of course I want to stay at Everton," Anichebe told
skysports.com.
"I have been here since I was a boy and I have grown up at the club.
Crazy
"The whole situation over the weekend about my contract was a bit crazy to be honest.
"I don't know where it leaked from that I supposedly turned down an offer of £30,000 a week.
"That is not the case at all. I have not been offered anything like the figures that have been bandied about in the press.
"I want the fans to know I would never disrespect the club in any way or disrespect the fans.
"I am happy at the club, happy with the players, happy with the manager and I don't have any problem with anyone at the club."
Upset
Anichebe admits he was upset to be singled out for abuse by some fans over the contract rumours and conceded it was the worst experience in his career
He added: "I spoke to the manager the other day and he didn't understand where it came from either and he was shocked by the reception I got when I came on against Wigan.
"I was quite shocked by the reaction from some fans and to be honest it was quite upsetting because of the fact I have come through the ranks and the fans have always been so good to me throughout my time at the club.
"It was probably the worst day I have had as a footballer the reception I got and even the build-up to it.
"I understand that some of them will believe what they read in the papers, but I want to reassure them I would never disrespect the club or them in any way.
"I am like the fans, I know what Everton means to them.
"It was hard what happened to me, but I have great team-mates around me and Tim Cahill, Phil Neville and Phil Jagielka have helped me a lot.
"The main thing for me is to train hard and play as many games as possible as I have had two tough injuries over the last 18 months and I just want to leave all the negotiations with my advisers who deal with that side of things."
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