Manchester City’s flying start leaves Yaya Toure grounded, so what’s next for the Ivory Coast star who once ruled the Etihad?
Midfield powerhouse has played just 29 minutes in the Premier League for the unbeaten leaders - and Football Whispers assess what's next for the 34-year-old who seems keen on Italy
MANCHESTER CITY have made a flying start to the season: unbeaten, top of the Premier League and looking genuine contenders in the Champions League at this early stage.
But not everyone inside the Etihad Stadium will be happy with how the season is going so far.
Veteran midfielder Yaya Toure has featured in just 29 minutes of Premier League football and could soon look for an exit in search of more regular action.
The 34-year-old former Barcelona man reportedly came close to leaving the club last year, and he has recently talked up a potential move to Italy.
“In the past there have been several contacts with Italian football,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport, “but then I have followed different and important paths like those of Barcelona and Manchester City.
“But never say never in life.”
With moving seemingly in his mind, our friends at Football Whispers have identified five potential destinations for Toure.
Inter Milan
Toure was linked with a move to Inter in the summer of 2016, with the Serie A giants fresh off the back of a Chinese takeover and looking to splash the cash.
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At the time, the Ivorian powerhouse was the subject of frenzied transfer speculation after a reported falling out with manager Pep Guardiola, while Inter were under the auspices of former City boss Roberto Mancini, who was keen on a reunion with Toure.
But Mancini was axed from the San Siro before any deal could be done and the talk began to die down as Toure and Guardiola seemed to resolve their feud.
Inter are currently riding high in the Italian top flight under Luciano Spalletti, second in the table and just two points behind leaders Napoli. So, as things stand, the Nerazzurri don’t appear to need reinforcements.
But the January arrival of a player of Toure’s calibre and experience could be just the tonic for firming up Inter’s title bid.
AC Milan
Big-spending Milan were tipped to be Serie A contenders ahead of the 2017/18 season, having spent well over £150million to bring in the likes of Leonardo Bonucci, Franck Kessie and Hakan Calhanoglu.
But things aren’t going to play for Vincenzo Montella’s men, who currently sit way down in eighth place, already 12 points adrift of the Champions League places.
One of the Rossoneri’s major failings has been their soft centre, lacking leadership and resolve in the middle of the park to tie their disparate new arrivals together. A role tailor-made for Toure, perhaps?
Fenerbahce
Turkish giants Fenerbahce were believed to have identified Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini as their top summer target, and will reportedly renew their interest in the Belgian midfielder at the end of the current campaign when he will be out of contract.
However, United boss Jose Mourinho is desperate to hold on to the former Everton star, and will fight tooth and nail to keep him at Old Trafford.
If it’s an experienced, physically-imposing central midfielder Fenerbahce seek, there may be a more readily available candidate on the blue side of Manchester.
Besiktas
Another option in the Turkish Super Lig could be Besiktas, who finished as runners-up in the division last season and are currently shining in the Champions League, topping Group G with 10 points from a possible 12.
The Istanbul club’s transfer strategy of picking up veterans of the European game with elite-level experience saw them sign Portuguese defender Pepe from Real Madrid, former City striker Alvaro Negredo and ex-Inter Milan destroyer Gary Medel this summer.
If they aim to continue in that vein, the acquisition of Toure would make perfect sense, while also offering the player Champions League football.
New York City FC
If Toure feels his time at the top end of the continental game has come to an end and is eying a lucrative move to a developing league, Major League Soccer in the USA will surely appeal.
And there is no more suitable MLS club for a City legend than New York City FC, who are owned by the City Football Group, meaning a transition to the Big Apple would be fairly straightforward.
What’s more, with Italian World Cup winner Andrea Pirlo set to retire at the end of the current MLS season, NYC FC will have an opening for a midfield playmaker.
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