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Toffeelinks: Cahill tribute, Heitinga latest, youngster close to new deal

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21:  Tim Cahill of Everton stretches during an Everton training session at Finch Farm on October 21, 2011 in Liverpool, England.  (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 21: Tim Cahill of Everton stretches during an Everton training session at Finch Farm on October 21, 2011 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
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Tim Cahill will always be a blue

Tim Cahill has paid tribute to Everton and its fans after sealing a move to MLS side New York Red Bulls. The 32-year-old brought the curtain down on a eight-year Toffees career and revealed he would never play for another Premier League team out of respect for Everton.

"It has been a privilege to be an Everton player for the past eight years and it was a very difficult decision to leave. I will always support Everton and I wish the club the best of luck in the future.”

More Cahill tributes after the jump

"The man for the big occasion" - Phil Jagielka on Tim Cahill

“He came up with big performances in the most important games. Hopefully we’ll have someone else to step up to the plate. We will miss him on and off the pitch.

“He was a quite close friend of mine, we spent a bit of time off the pitch doing stuff, but I’m sure we will see him again anyway.

“He’ll definitely be missed. He’s been around here eight years and had some fantastic moments for the Club.

“You look back at the video clip of his goals, and while you might forget some of them, it really brings a smile to your face to watch them again.

Cahill: An Everton icon - Richard Jolly, ESPN

He was emblematic of Everton, equipped with a never-say-die attitude and a willingness to battle. Phil Neville was the ultimate professional, Leighton Baines the lifelong Evertonian and Mikel Arteta the artist, but Cahill was the talisman.

In other news......

Toffees to resist Fenerbahce bids for Heitnga as Yobo saga rumbles on

Everton and Fenerbache continue to fall out over a deal to sell Joseph Yobo, with Everton desperate to sell in order to fund a move for Steven Pienaar, Aware of this, the Turkish side are playing hardball and have added a twist to the tale by making a £5million bid for Johnny Heitinga. David Moyes appears likely to resist any bids for the Dutchman, but given our poverty, a bid in excess of £6million may be hard to resist. Especially as we have Distin, Jags and Duffy to cover the centre back positions.

Conor McAleny closing on on new deal

Everton are set to offer 19-year-old striker Conor McAleny a new contract. The Whiston-born forward made his first-team debut away at Arsenal and is clearly highly rated by David Moyes, who has let a number of McAleny's peers leave the club this summer.

U15s lose Milk Cup final

Everton U15s missed out on the chance to win the Milk Cup for the fourth time in five years, losing 2-0 to Brentford in Coleraine.