Thoughts on Yaya Toure's potential Manchester City departure

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague sensationally claimed yesterday that Yaya Toure could seek to leave Manchester City.

Writing on his Sulia page, he posted: "According to a source close to the player, Yaya is willing to leave City this summer. He has offers, I am told, and, considering he is one of the best paid players in the world, that can only come from Anzhi or PSG. That is if we want to believe that he has offers. His strategy is pretty similar to the one that forced Guardiola to let the player go even though Yaya admitted later on that he never wanted to leave. Barcelona were asked, either a new contract or I am leaving. I wonder if a new contract will be demanded of City before the summer."

This for City is along with Vincent Kompany deciding to walk away, pretty much the nightmare scenario. Toure is one of the few very irreplaceable footballers not only in their squad, but the whole world.

The good news is that in this situation, City hold all the cards. They do not have to sell, for they are the most cash-rich club in the country.

In fact the only Premier League team likely to be able to afford him is Chelsea, and City are unlikely to sell at all, especially to a competitor.

Abroad? It's safe to rule out a move to Russia, despite the riches available to him there, he would surely find it less competitive than City, and a tougher lifestyle to boot.

The big threat is PSG. Even though the French league is arguably even weaker than the Russian, the strides Paris Saint Germain are making have made the rest of Europe sit up and take notice.

In 2011 they spent huge money on Javier Pastore, and this summer it was Thiago Silva, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The owners are putting together a dream team, and they will be looking again for a statement signing in 2013.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been mooted, but Toure would be a better signing for them, for the centre of midfield is one area they haven't hugely strengthened with big name signings.

City fans may scoff, why would Toure want to go to PSG? But Milan fans would have asked the same of their stars last season. The two situations are of course not the same. Milan needed the money, while City simply don't.

Even with the spectre of FFP hanging over them, which looms over PSG too, City will have a plan to adjust to any incoming regulations, and selling Toure or any other key players will not be part of it.

The other factor to consider, is player power. This is not the first time this year speculation has arisen regarding Toure's departure, and it must be at least considered, before it is inevitably and predictably publicly denied, that there could be some truth in the rumours.

If City blow Champions League progression again, which could happen considering their indifferent start and tough opponents (Dortmund, Real Madrid and Ajax) - Then it may feed into any thoughts Toure is having about quitting the Etihad.

Player power in this day and age means if a player wants to leave, it invariably happens. Look at Robin van Persie and Arsenal this summer. The difference is, Toure is contracted for two seasons beyond this one, his current deal expiring in 2015. 

Our verdict? Don't entirely rule it out, because if Toure comes out and says he wants to come, City will be forced into a corner, a new position for them with one of their stars and it is difficult to predict accurately how they will respond. But if we were City, there would be no way we would let such an integral player leave, whether he wants to or not.

What do you make of the rumours? Are they just that?

image: © marc_tacoma