Newcastle transfer target Andreas Granqvist has confirmed he is happy to stay with Italian side Genoa, despite speculation over a January exit.

The Sweden international defender has been tracked by a host of European clubs, including Zenit St Petersburg, Serie A duo Lazio and Roma, and Newcastle’s Premier League rivals Sunderland and Liverpool.

Granqvist has already featured in England’s top division, enduring an unsuccessful 18-month spell at Wigan, where he made just 14 appearances.

He has since rebuilt his career in the Dutch Eredevisie with FC Groningen and lately in Serie A, after earning a £2million move to Genoa in the summer of 2011.

The 27-year-old has established himself as a key player for the Italian outfit, who are currently languishing in second bottom position in the league table.

But the Swede, who scored an equaliser in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Torino, admits he may not leave Genoa and his fate rests with the club’s hierarchy.

“I’m fine to stay with Genoa, but I don’t know what will happen,” Granqvist told The Shields Gazette. “Everything depends on the President.”

And Granqvist’s agent Simon Canovi has stressed that Genoa need to keep the services of the defender if they are to stave off the threat of relegation.

“He is a player of real value which may be important for Genoa to climb the table,” said Canovi.

“I think it is normal that Andreas is appealing to other clubs.

“But in my opinion, there are not many strong defenders like Granqvist around and they cost too much.”

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