3 Possible Replacements Should Manchester City Sell Yaya Toure

How do you replace the irreplaceable? That’s the task facing Manchester City at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Yaya Toure, 32, is still an integral part of the side, but like any footballer, age is catching up.

The Toure we are seeing this season remains influential—capable of a first-time no-look pass that can take out defenders, or a beautifully flighted long ball that stretches play.

However, the old lung-busting runs, which were for so long the definitive element of his game, have subsided and his position has needed altering.

In Manuel Pellegrini’s first season in charge of City, Toure played as part of a two-man central midfield alongside Fernandinho. Both players were expected to contribute to both defence and attack.

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It was physically demanding, but Fernandinho, then 28, and Toure, 30, managed it. City’s midfield pairing was arguably the key facet in their Premier League and League Cup successes.

But Toure no longer can play the box-to-box role. His best games this season have often come when he has more solidity around him, freeing him up to concentrate on impacting the attack. 

So who, when the time comes, could possibly replace the Ivorian? No one player could replace him completely, but perhaps a combination of the right attributes could see City construct a midfield with the quality they need to continue their success.

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1. Paul Pogba

The most obvious candidate is Paul Pogba, the Juventus midfielder who possesses a rich, varied game.

Pogba, 22, is on the verge of greatness. His next move, which is likely to be to Barcelona, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Joe Short at the Express), will be vital for him.

He possesses pace, power, athleticism, stamina and the ability to conjure a piece of brilliance out of very little.

However, with Premier League sides now having financial resources that dwarf the budgets of La Liga teams, City may still fancy their chances of luring Pogba to the Etihad.

And that’s before City’s recent Chinese investment, which saw China Media Capital (CMC) buy a 13 percent stake in the club for £265 million, as reported by Ian Herbert at the Independent. 

Should City look to make a significant signing next summer, it’s likely Pogba would be near the top of their list.

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2. Marco Verratti

The rise to prominence of Marco Verratti has been something to behold.

The Italian midfielder, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, is a tough-tackling player, but one who also likes to drop deep and start attacks—a rarity in the modern game and the type of player City could do with.

He’s only 23 and the progress he has made since his move to Paris in 2012 has been remarkable. With PSG hardly in need of cash, it would take a significant sum of money to prise him from the French capital, but City, surely, have him on their radar. 

He’s a wonderful player.

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3. Ross Barkley

Again, hardly a direct replacement for Toure, but Ross Barkley, the Everton and England midfielder, would surely interest City if a deal became a possibility.

He's been back to his best this season, scoring six and assisting five in the Premier League alone. 

A gifted player with an eye for a pass, he looks likely to be England's creative hub for years to come. 

He's a confident player, one who wants possession of the ball and is prepared to take risks. More often than not, those risks lead to positive rewards. 

There's a premium placed on British players that may put City off, but he's a player they will be keeping tabs on. 

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Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.