Wenger refuses to rule out Toure City switch

Arsene Wenger has refused to rule out the possibility of selling Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure to Manchester City.

Reports in England on Tuesday suggested Toure was preparing to fly back from Arsenal’s Austrian pre-season training camp ahead of a 15 million pounds transfer to big-spending City later this week.

Wenger signed Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax earlier in pre-season and the Gunners manager admits that has left him with a surplus of centre-backs which could lead to Toure’s exit in the next 24 hours.

“We will see what’s happening in the next 24 hours, nothing is decided yet,” Wenger told ArsenalTV.

“We have seven centre-backs and I am in the position where I have to play some in midfield but of course Kolo is a very good player and we will see what will happen in the next 24 hours.”

If Toure does join City, he will be the second Arsenal player signed by Mark Hughes this pre-season following Emmanuel Adebayor’s 25 million pounds move to Eastlands.

The Adebayor deal has given Wenger money to play with in the transfer market and he is ready to splash out for the right player.

“I am more focused on getting everybody fit for the start of the season but we are looking at opportunities as well, there are still some pre-season games to see what we really need,” Wenger said. “When the time comes we will do something.”