The Daily Mail is reporting that City has succeeded in snaring Toure with lightning speed after their John Terry overtures were rebuffed. He comes to the Eastlands with a £15m price tag and phenomenal wages of £120,000 per week. Arsenal loses their longest serving member of the current squad and part of the 2003-2004 Premiership winning squad. His crucial partnership with Sol Campbell ensured an undefeated season for the Gunners.
Last season, Toure was erratic and he had a big dustup with the abrasive William Gallas which prompted him to ask for a transfer. It appeared that the matter had died down till City came knocking. However, unlike Adebayor who had worn out his welcome with the fans, Toure was well liked and appreciated for his strong tackling skills and work rate. He will be a huge loss and frankly leaves Arsenal with a big defensive hole. Phillipe Senderos is most likely to be offloaded and Johan Djorou is still a bit green to be a full replacement. Brede Hangelend transfer rumours to begin anew?
A few things here. We can be pretty sure that Arsenal is now quite strapped for cash. We were unable to mount a serious challenge for Felipe Melo even though a quality holding midfielder is a priority and remains one. With all the news linking us to Marouane Chamakh, it came as a surprise that Arsenal had not even contacted the Bordeaux striker with Sunderland as the only club making an offer. Which means that the £40m generated from the Adebayor and Toure sale will most likely go towards reducing the £318m debt which remains a huge monkey on the back. It is therefore, unsurprising to see reports that Alisher Usmanov is once again thinking of reintroducing the rights issue and might do so at this years shareholders AGM.
Do they have more money than sense? Why are Arsenal letting him go? Perhaps he's past his best!