Report: Manchester City to consider serious offers for Yaya Toure in planned summer clearout
This season could reportedly be Yaya Toure's last at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City is planning a summer clearout that will see the club consider serious offers for Toure and put the future of many other high-profile players up in the air, according to Jamie Jackson of The Guardian.
Upon glancing at the contract situation of City's squad, Jackson's report suggests that Bacary Sagna, Martin Demichelis, Aleksandar Kolarov, Samir Nasri, James Milner, Gael Clichy, Pablo Zabaleta, Jesus Navas, Fernando, Stevan Jovetic and Edin Dzeko are at risk of leaving, as none of them have committed to a long-term future with the club.
The report, which comes one day after City were overrun by Barcelona and eliminated from the Champions League, isn't all that surprising given Toure's turbulent history at the Etihad. For example, in May, the 31-year-old defensive midfielder's agent claimed that his client was considering leaving City because of how the club marked his birthday.
Furthermore, Toure's body language on the pitch this season does little to suggest that he's happy at City, and he appears to be struggling more and more with the defensive role he finds himself playing under Manuel Pellegrini.
Yaya Toure needs a tactical rethink, says @jonawils, because he can’t do it all for #mcfc now http://t.co/rLHV4KeQMR pic.twitter.com/UfTErvTLG5
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 19, 2015
Gary Neville on Yaya Toure being played in a deeper role: "You need to get him out of there, it's just too much for him."
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 18, 2015
Two years remain on Toure's contract after this season, and Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini has already expressed interest in bringing the Ivorian midfielder to the San Siro despite concerns over whether such a move could be financed by the Italian club.
In terms of who could potentially arrive at City this summer, Jackson's report indicated that the club are targeting Kevin De Bruyne, who is enjoying a breakout campaign at Wolfsburg having notched nine goals and 16 assists in 25 Bundesliga appearances.