Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is reportedly considering his future at the club following an announcement from agent Dimitri Seluk that suggested the Ivorian could leave if not given assurances of contract talks in the coming week.
Quite a bold statement from Seluk, but something the club have grown accustomed to and aren’t likely to budge on given their current stance with the player.
Too old and inconsistent
Toure deal at the Etihad will be up in the summer of 2017, where he will be 34, so it’s unlikely Manchester City would want to extend his deal any further given how much the midfield commands in wages. The former Barcelona star has come under a lot of criticism for performances this season, and has been tipped to be one of many players axed when manager Pep Guardiola takes over in the summer.
Guardiola wasn’t keen on Toure when managing his old club Barca, and it’s unlikely he will be too enamoured with him this time round too given he doesn’t fit his philosophy at all. While boasting technical qualities, the lack of work rate from Toure in games would be a real bug-bear for Guardiola especially when operating in a key area of the park.
Supporters have been frustrated with his laconic displays as he’s not having the same effect of the past. Toure has been an enigma for manager Manuel Pellegrini due to his inability to protect the backline in a deep-lying role, while being behind David Silva in the central attacking-midfield. Guardiola could eliminate the quandary altogether by selling, so would he be missed?
Guardiola wants brains over brawn in his midfield
Toure has six goals and five assists from 25 Premier League appearances this season, while creating 36 chances and making 46 successful dribbles. The statistics would suggest good form from the Ivorian, but his performance-levels haven’t been anywhere near to what they should be in 2015/16. Toure has proven to be most effective when attacking, but he has big flaws in his defensive game that continue to cost City.
The Sky Blues are all too easily susceptible to the counter attack because Toure has little tactical awareness of his role despite constant coaching from the City staff. Often he’s caught high up the pitch, or not protecting his defence, and it’s such flaws that will further convincing Guardiola to part company. Add all this to a poor attitude and meddle agent and it doesn’t seem worth the Sky Blues time and money to entertain Dimitri Seluk.
City have fallen considerably short with Yaya Toure in the Premier League this season, and they will be playing a style not fit for the physical central midfielder. Guardiola prefers intelligent ball-players, rather than the physicality of Toure. His agent for years has put pressure on the club to bow to his demands too, so is it time for Yaya to exit the Etihad?
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