5 Best Options to Replace Yaya Toure in Manchester City's Midfield

Speaking at his press conference ahead of his side’s game with West Ham United on Sunday, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini admitted that he was unhappy with the form of Ivorian midfielder Yaya Toure.

"For a lot of reasons, he's not the same player he was last season but he continues being a very important player for our team," he said, relayed by the Manchester Evening News. Pellegrini added:

"

It's very easy when you don't get the results to single out one player but remember in January people said we were one player and it was Yaya. That's when we started with bad results it was just because this team was Yaya.

The only player we had was Yaya and without him we couldn't win—I don't think it was true. He's not playing well in parts of the game. But in some parts he is playing well and he will continue playing. 

I don't think he's happy with his performance this year—and nor am I. But we must support him and return him to his normal performance.

"

It’s fair to say Toure’s level has dropped this season. After scoring 24 goals in City’s league-and-cup-double-winning season of 12 months ago, he’s been much less effective this campaign.

At 31, some feel the decline may be terminal and that City may be best off cashing in on Toure while his price remains reasonably high.

But who would replace him if he were to be sold? No player in world football has quite the same blend of attributes, but here are five possible candidates who could come in and begin to form part of a new midfield setup at the Etihad Stadium.

1. Paul Pogba

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

The most obvious candidate to replace Toure is Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, a player likely to be chased by a number of top teams if he comes onto the market this summer. 

Pogba is arguably the closest there is to Toure in Europe. He possesses strength, technical quality and the ability to drive forward with the ball at pace. He’s shown that he’s a top quality player since moving to Juventus in 2012 after being criminally overlooked at Manchester United, and City are surely monitoring his situation.

2. Marco Verratti

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti has shone this season.

Impressive displays, particularly in the Champions League, have seen his stock rise, with strength and tenacity his defining qualities.

PSG are financially sound and unlikely to want to sell Verratti, but he’s exactly the kind of player City could do with. He likes to drop deep, collect the ball off defenders and begin attacks, something City are lacking at present. At just 22 years of age, he also has plenty of time to improve. 

3. Blaise Matuidi

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Blaise Matuidi is similar to Toure in terms of his energy and box-to-box ability, and he would be an excellent replacement if the Ivorian left City this summer. 

In terms of stature, he’s smaller than Toure, but his tenacity and fighting qualities make him a dynamic and powerful midfield option. Alongside the right player, he would be a success at the Etihad.

He's 28, and therefore possibly too old, given the average of City's squad is already too high, but his tough-tackling, all-action style would add strength and urgency to their midfield. 

4. Geoffrey Kondogbia

Christophe Ena/Associated Press

Monaco midfielder, Geoffrey Kondogbia, played 57 times for France's youth teams at various levels and looks likely to be a regular for the national side for many years. 

A powerful defensive-minded player, Kondogbia is strong and imposing. Therefore, he could fill the physical gap Toure's departure would leave. At 22 and with burgeoning reputation, he wouldn't come cheap, though.

5. Ross Barkley

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In no way the same kind of player as Toure, Everton and England midfielder Ross Barkley looks to have a bright future and has interested City in the past, according to Simon Mullock writing in the Mirror.

Barkley is a very creative player, one who has shown already in his brief career that he is technically gifted and has match-winning capabilities.

His form has dipped significantly this season, but the talent needed to go on and have an excellent career still appears to be there.