YAY TOURE HAS confirmed interest from Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic, though he says he must speak with Brendan Rodgers before any decision is made.
The midfielder completed an eight-year spell with Manchester City last summer, leaving the club at the end of the season.
Toure won three Premier League titles, three League Cups, an FA Cup and a Community Shield as a player on the blue side of Manchester.
His next stop was a short one, as Toure rejoined Olympiakos, the team he had spent the 2005-06 season with. Despite only signing in September, Toure’s contract was terminated three months later via mutual consent.
Reports have linked him with a move to Celtic, who are tied with Rangers atop the Scottish Premiership in points, where his brother Kolo is an assistant under Rodgers.
And speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, Toure admitted there is interest from the Scottish club, but will require further discussions with the manager before any agreement is reached.
“Celtic are a great team, but I will speak to Brendan Rodgers there and we will see what happens,” Toure said.
Manchester City remain competitive on all fronts this season, and the quadruple, winning in the Premier League, Champions League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup, still remains a possibility.
Going hard in all four of the competitions could end up being a detriment for City as they not only aim to secure Champions League glory for the first time, but also overtake Liverpool in the Premier League.
But Toure believes Pep Guardiola is intent on not sacrificing any competition, and hopes to win them all.
“I think now the big question is if City are going to go for the Premier League or the Champions League or the League Cup or the FA Cup?” Toure said. “I don’t think so, I think he’s going to go for all of them.
“I think the Champions League is the big, big one. To be honest, the cups – the League Cup and the FA Cup – can become a distraction.
“Why? Because the Champions League and the Premier League is the big, big target for Man City.”
Asked about whether it was a different situation in Spain with the top clubs there compared to England, Toure said he thinks it is, noting how difficult the English top flight is.
“Yes, to be honest it is different,” Toure said. “Different, different, different type of football.
“The Premier League is one of the top leagues in the world. In Spain, these teams – Real Madrid and Barcelona – have been recently winning Champions League but the Premier League is the competition. The physicality is so, so high.
“And I hope he will do it. It’ll be good for the fans and good for the football club.
“Let’s believe it. I know it’s not going to be easy but I hope City will try to do it.”
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He should be rediscovering his form & fitness with Munster not with the national team. Shouldn’t be a separate rule for him no matter how good he is at his best. Just lowers squad standards….
@ℝ: Who should be in the squad ahead of him, do you think? Marmion is barely back from injury and McGrath is still out for a few more weeks.
@Conor Matthews: Cooney and Blade, the two form Irish scrumhalves by a country mile… and especially for the Italy game. The pace the pair play is perfect for an ireland game to run Italy ragged, and test their fringe defences as unlike Murray both delight at sniping runs at defences. Cooney may be light on Caps but he has loads of experience having played for three provinces and excelled at all…
Yep, no sympathy for Murray or Sexton, thats 2 games they havent performed. Get in the queue and earn your places again boys. And this is why Joe should be rotating the squad more often. Like it was mentioned above, get your game time at the provinces…..and then bring that game to the national team, if youre good enough. Class is permanent, Joe says, yeah but who puts BOD (no disrespect meant) in at 13 these days. Form…form…form
@Trev: sexton was poor v England but he was running the game v Scotland until he got injured. We’d have won by 30 if he’d have stayed on.
@Chris Mc: complete tosh. Apart from the assist to stockdale sexton was bang average. Kicking out of hand was poor and his kick from the tee was embarrassing. He wasn’t as poor as Murray but don’t kid yourself if you think he’s in any better form. Last decent shift sexton put in was against NZ for club and country.
@Chris Mc: yes he got injured, is that your or my fault? No. As the saying goes……youre only as good as your last game. He’s had 2 now, & so has Murray. There is plenty of class waiting in the wings (but thats another discussion)…
Just re-read the headline, that is just pish! Either he can play at the highest level or…he cant. Simple until he gets back up there. But do not waste international minutes on him on the off-chance that he is going to take another 10 or so games to rediscover his form. Same with Sexton….Joe its time to start cracking the whip!!!
@Trev: I think Joe Schmidt will start Sexton and Murray.I also think he should
I’d really like to see the other players get a chance to prove their worth under pressure. What is going to happen in the RWC if a key member gets injured? The tournament is beyond Ireland realistically, so give Carbery etc starting roles. We don’t want a repeat of player burnout before the finals stages
Murray’s been way off it the last number of games ever since Exeter visited Limerick. Hope he rediscovers but can’t be at the expense of Ireland.