West Ham have held negotiations with Yaya Toure in an attempt to reunite him with his former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, according to the Sun.
The newspaper claim discussions with the Premier League great are yet to result in an offer from City, who have been put off by the player’s ‘baggage’ as well as his decreasing mobility in centre midfield.
The Sun report Pellegrini is a big admirer of Toure, 35, and the claim of his agent that he would play for a Premier League club for £1-a-week is wide of the mark as the package he is seeking, including signing-on fee and bonuses, would be worth over £100,000-a-week.
Good move for West Ham?
Only if Toure really was willing to play for a peppercorn salary. That, however, is about as likely as the Ivory Coast international running 13 kilometres a game, as he used to during his peak. Toure’s legs have gone, and he is unwilling – or, more like it, actually unable – to zip around the pitch like he did in his pomp. For the peerless set pieces and majisterial long passes alone, it would be great fun for Irons to see Toure in a West Ham jersey for a season. But the enjoyment would soon fade as it became clear that the ageing maestro cannot do what he once did at his very best. The Londoners are better off steering well clear of this one.
This Is Futbol rating 3/10
Likely to happen?
Not really. Don’t rule it out completely, given that Jack Wilshere has just signed on a three-year contract. But Toure is a decade older and is unlikely to sign for anything other than a hefty package given that his Manchester City deal that ended last month was worth £240,000-a-week (source: Guardian).
This Is Futbol rating 2/10