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Agent: Toure likely to leave Manchester City, open to United move

Reuters / Stefan Wermuth Livepic

It appears Yaya Toure is set to blow out the candles on a decorated Manchester City tenure.

With the Ivorian midfield metronome's contract at the Etihad set to expire in the summer, Toure's agent and noted provocateur, Dimitri Seluk, says his client is likely to leave the club in the summer in light of City's failure to kick off negotiations with the two-time Premier League winner.

"At this moment the situation like this; from yesterday we officially started negotiating with different clubs about his future," Seluk told Sky Sports Friday.

Asked if his client would consider a move to City rival Manchester United, Seluk said, "Why not? Jose Mourinho is a very good coach. Zlatan Ibrahimovic was together with Yaya in Barcelona."

Seluk, who stoked the fire at City by publicly criticising Pep Guardiola in September, is no stranger to outlandish claims as a means of posturing in his patron's favour, and while Toure himself has said nothing about a move to United, the Ukranian's remarks are sure to continue a trend of bombastic remarks.

"We waited until March 15 for what Manchester City will say but until now Manchester City don't say anything. Before March, we didn't negotiate with anybody because Yaya does a lot with Manchester City, so we waited. But we cannot wait until the last minute, until June and have no negotiations with anybody," Seluk adds.

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Toure, 33, has enjoyed a celebrated seven-year spell at City, capturing league honours twice to go with a pair of League Cups and the 2010-11 FA Cup. The three-time African Player of the Year has also twice been named to the PFA Team of the Year and was voted City's Player of the Year in 2013-14, though this campaign has been a lesson in the plight of sporadic use.

With just 16 appearances this campaign, Toure has appeared on the fringes of first-team football and behind Fernandinho in Guardiola's depth chart, especially when the Catalan gaffer opts for a 4-1-4-1 formation as he did in defeat to Monaco Wednesday. That, paired with an expiring contract, could see Toure look abroad for his next gig.

"Some clubs have contacted me. Now we have three options. I don't speak about Yaya and China or the MLS. He will play in Europe. I have spoken with clubs in different countries; Italy and Spain," Seluk continued.

"Clubs from England waited for the situation with Manchester City, but now we can speak in England and soon I will come to England for negotiations. Yaya must go to vacation already signed with another club."

If Seluk's comments are to be taken as canon, it would appear that Toure's options are limitless.

"Yaya can, tomorrow, sign a contract with another club and after that for Manchester City it is too late. They don't say anything; he must say or he must go. They can think it and Manchester City one of the options. We are open to negotiations. But tomorrow, for example, we heard with Chelsea, he will sign with Chelsea."

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