Where next for Yaya Toure?
The news emerged last week that talismanic midfielder Yaya Toure would be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season. The Ivorian has been a main-stay in the City team since his arrival in 2010 and he has been massively influential in their trophy laden period since 2011. Toure scored the winning goals in the semi-final and final of the FA Cup in 2011 – ending City’s 35 year wait for a trophy and he has since been part of 3 League cup and 3 Premier League winning campaigns.
He will be 35 and a free agent this summer but he is synonymous with success and there appears to be a growing list of clubs after his signature.
Staying in the Premier League
Dimitri Seluk – Toure’s often outspoken agent has made potential suitors aware this week of Toure’s desire to stay in the Premier League and prove himself as ‘one of the league’s best central midfielders’. That claim looks a little ambitious – purely due to Toure’s age and the pace of the Premier League but he undoubtedly possesses many attributes teams could use. West Ham United lead the market domestically – 6/1 with Ladbrokes and a move to the capital could be attractive for Toure. Newcastle fans would love to get behind Toure, who could be a leader in a relatively young team – 10/1 with NetBet to end up at St James’s Park.
European Options
Despite not being able to deliver a European trophy with City, Toure has long been regarded as one of the best players on the continent and he is a huge name in European football. A fluent French speaker, he is currently 8/1 with Bet Victor to end up at a French club – although any wage demands could be a stumbling block. Italian football is currently enjoying a renaissance and luring Toure would be a coup – once again 8/1 with BetVictor to end up at an Italian club. The Turkish Super League is a viable option for Toure – due to the huge fan base and investment the league has behind it. 12/1 with Bet Victor looks a very good price for Toure to be plying his trade in Turkey next term.
Further Afield
As many players head towards the twilight of their careers, the pull of one ‘last big pay day’ seems to attract the world’s best. Think Lampard, Gerrard & Drogba in America or Tevez, Mascherano & Hulk in China. Toure’s appeal is worldwide due to the influence he had on the game in the Premier League and his African heritage. Any MLS Team is currently the market leader at 3/1 with Sky Bet and it’s undoubted his profile would be a good fit for America. Slightly further out is Any Chinese Super League Team – 7/1 with Betfair, but with the financial muscle on offer in China, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Toure playing in Asia next season.
Wherever Yaya Toure ends up next, he will always be regarded as a legend at Manchester City, the man who propelled the blues from the perennial chokers to one of Europe’s elite teams. Whichever team he goes to next have a serious player on their hands – even aged 35.