Yaya Toure has reportedly voiced his ambition to continue playing in the Premier League, as he readies to leave Manchester City after eight glittering years, at the end of the season.
The Ivorian is destined to leave Etihad in the upcoming summer transfer window, which might open the door for their Premier League rivals to make a move for the midfielder. According to reports, Everton, in particular, have shown a keen interest in signing the former Barcelona star, as they look to further strengthen their midfield next season.
Toure played his final game at the Etihad against Brighton & Hove Albion tonight and has already attracted interest from a host of Premier League outfits. However, a move to Everton could prove to be a smart decision from the Ivorian for a number of reasons.
The Toffees, who have once again struggled to make their mark in the Premier League despite undergoing a spending spree last summer, are in desperate need of some quality midfield reinforcements.
The likes of Davy Klaassen and Gylfi Sigurdsson, who were initially brought last summer, in order to strengthen their midfield, have struggled to make any significant impact at Goodison this season, meaning the acquisition of a quality midfielder has become paramount for the Merseyside giants.
Yaya Toure, on the other hand, has been one of Premier League’s best midfielders in the 21st century. Since moving from FC Barcelona in the summer of 2010, the 34-year-old has found resounding success with the Sky Blues, helping them win three Premier League titles as well as an FA Cup and the League Cup.
Toure has also made over 300 appearances for Manchester City in all competitions, scoring a whopping 79 goals whilst providing 50 assists, a stunning record for a midfielder.
Therefore, his addition to the Everton lineup could be a boon for the Toffees, especially considering the fact that they currently lack a bit of experience in the midfield department. As his impressive record already suggests, Yaya Toure is an experienced midfielder, who can not only set the tone for the youngsters but also emerge as a leader over the next couple of seasons.
His immense experience in the top flight will prove to be invaluable for the likes of Tom Davies and Beni Baningime, both of whom have shown tremendous promise this season.
However, that being said, Everton could face stiff competition from the likes of Burnley, the newly-promoted Wolves as well as teams from foreign leagues. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how his transfer saga takes shape in the upcoming summer.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored