YAYA TOURE is desperate to stay in the Premier League is he leaves Manchester City in January.
The Ivorian international has been pushed out by new boss Pep Guardiola, who had a spectacular row with his agent.
Toure turned down a big-money offer from China in the summer as well as a move from Inter Milan because his family are settled in Cheshire.
Etihad chiefs are desperate to get the midfielder, 33, off their books due to his huge £220,000-a-week wages.
And they would be happy to let Toure – who is under contract until next summer – join one of their rivals to free up funds for Guardiola to strengthen his squad.
Toure returned to training this week but did not travel to Wales for the 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Swansea.
He has been told he will not play for City again – unless agent Dimitiri Seluk apologises.
The Ivorian has been sidelined for most of the season and was axed from the Champions League squad in September.
After the snub, Seluk said: “It is Pep’s decision and we must respect that.
“If he wins the Champions League for City this season then I will travel to England and I will say on television that Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world.
“But if City don’t win the Champions League then I hope that Pep has got the balls to say that he was wrong to humiliate a great player like Yaya.
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“Yaya is a professional and so he will do everything he is asked to do.
“Perhaps Pep will think he is good enough to play in the final 10 minutes of a League Cup game against a third division team – and, yes, I am joking.
“But what I can tell you is that Yaya will spend the season at City. He will not be leaving in January. He hopes that he will get the chance to prove himself.”
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