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Despite not featuring regularly this season, Yaya Toure's status as a Manchester City legend is secure. The 34-year-old will most likely depart the club this summer in order to get more playing time as he enters the twilight of his illustrious career. He has also stated he would like to stay in England, squashing rumours about a move to the MLS and CSL.
The former Barcelona midfielder signed for City in 2010 and has gone on to make over 200 appearances for the club during his eight-year stay. Winning three Premier League titles, three League Cups and an FA Cup, Toure was influential in guiding City to their first taste of silverware in recent history.
Here we take a look at the four English clubs he could join:
#4 Newcastle United
Rafa Benitez has done an outstanding job with the budget at Newcastle United, steering the club to safety in their first season back in the Premier League.
With Benitez having stated his intentions to compete for trophies, Newcastle United will be eager to secure his services.
Yaya Toure would be a great addition to the Toon. With his ability, experience, and style, the club will be adding a great player in the central midfield department. He could help the likes of Ayoze Perez, Matt Richie and Dwight Gayle by playing in behind them.
Despite not scoring a single goal this season - the first season in his Premier League career without a goal - he's a creative player in the attacking third and helps the team create chances. He has 2 assists to his name this season in the league in 10 appearances. Newcastle United are 16th on the list of the number of touches for clubs in the league throughout the season. Toure could help better that statistic and increase the possession the team has in a game.
With over 200 games just in the Premier League, he's a veteran in English football. Toure is a proven winner and switching to Newcastle would mean moving to a massive English club and working under a top-quality manager. The Toon could be a great fit for Yaya Toure.
#3 West Ham United
Another option for the big Ivorian would be to move to a London club and in West Ham United he could find his second home in England. Toure has seen some of his former teammates move to the Hammers and enjoy adequate game time, and could follow suit.
David Moyes could use Toure in the middle of the park as an attacking option. A neat, tidy footballer Yaya Toure possesses the ability to explode past players although his age could prevent him from doing so. Toure is a potent goal threat and a creative attacking force that the club requires.
Marko Arnautovic, Manuel Lanzini and Michael Antonio will all be hugely benefitted by Toure's presence, link-up play and game reading ability.
A sound technical player with over 60 goals and 30 assists to his name in the league, Toure could join the likes of former City stars Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta at the London Stadium, given his desire to stay in England. The Ivorian is a versatile player who could play various roles for Moyes and help guide some of the younger players on the field.
#2 Bournemouth
Eddie Howe is known for making smart purchases and could do with the addition of Toure, who is versatile and will add great experience to the young Bournemouth squad. While Bournemouth are not a big English club, their sound values and footballing style have gotten them admirers from around the world. The Ivorian could be the missing piece that the club require in the midfield and the attacking third, to fight for a top ten spot next season.
Howe will be looking to improve his side and signing Toure would signal a statement of intent to progress. A great set-piece taker as well, Toure has an all-around set of skills that could bode well for the club. Yaya will add great quality to the team and will chip in with an average of 8 goals, based on his goalscoring prowess of past seasons.
In a good team under a good manager, Toure's 94% passing rate would only help push the club to new heights.
#1 Everton
The Blues of Merseyside could do with the addition of Yaya Toure to their ranks. The Ivorian will add stability and character to the team. An experienced veteran, the 34-year-old is still an attacking force who can help the club improve on their terrible 18th place standing in terms of shots taken.
Yaya will bring energy to the club and add a new dimension to the Everton attack. With Gylfi Sigurdsson out injured for a long period due to a torn ACL, the big midfielder is a suitable replacement for the Icelandic player.
The club will be busy in the transfer window and buy a few more attacking players for next season. With Barkley also gone, Yaya can also fill his void and be the central driving force for the club. His brother Kolo joined Liverpool in the final years of his career and Yaya could settle in Merseyside as well, but in the blue half.
