Everton have been named as a potential destination for Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure ahead of next season, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The regional newspaper claims that the 34-year-old wants to remain in England after Friday’s announcement that he will leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.
He has won three Premier League titles for Man City during his eight-year stay and is a midfield destroyer that is likely to go down as a club legend, with his physicality and stature a big part of his game over the years.
It is understood that the Ivory Coast international still feels he can compete in the top flight and wants to put off moves to China.
The report details that Everton, Burnley and Huddersfield are all named as potential suitors for the central midfielder.
Good move for Everton?
Toure has managed just 16 appearances this season for Premier League champions and has been used a lot more sparingly as he enters the latter stages of his career.
He is reportedly convinced he can still cut it at the top flight, but it would be a strange one for Everton to snap him up and they would surely have to pay high wages for him.
The Toffees already have the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies as options for them in the centre of the park.
Five years ago the Merseyside club would have snapped Man City’s hand off for Toure, but now there would be a big element of risk in the deal.
This Is Futbol rating: 4/10
Likely to happen?
Everton certainly seems the more likely a destination than Burnley or Huddersfield for such a high-profile player such as Toure.
They managed to snap up Wayne Rooney last summer when he was shown the exit doors by Manchester United and there is a possibility something similar could take place here.
This Is Futbol rating: 5/10