Future of Kolo Toure Still Hanging in the Balance

Manchester City center back Kolo Toure’s future over his controversial dope scandal has not been decided yet and the former Arsenal players is now waiting for FA decision on this regard.

Toure, 29, was found positive in a sample A drug test recently and is facing a ban up to two years from all forms of football. However, the defender said he had not been aware of the presence of ‘specified substance’ in his wife’s diet pill before taking it to keep himself fit physically.

The Ivory Coast international got support from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and the football federation of his country over the issue. Toure can now request for a sample B test as per the rule to check if illegal substance was really found in his body. FA has already said that it would reveal its decision over case within 8 weeks.

Kolo Toure joined Manchester City in summer 2009 for £16 million after spending seven years with Arsenal. Now, if FA imposes any ban on him, he can then appeal against it at the court of arbitration for sport.

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Kolo Toure: Why I Left Arsenal?

Kolo Toure was a great defense player at Arsenal but at this recently, he joined Manchester City for a transfer fee of £16m. He has opened his mouth and has strongly criticized his former club for giving too much importance to youth rather than experience. We all know that Arsenal Coach Arsene Wenger is always eager to get young players so that he can help to keep the club profitable. Because of this policy, the club has not won a single trophy in the last few seasons. Kolo Toure has stated that this is the main reason that he left the London club.

BBC reported:

And Toure suggested that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger's reluctance to match the spending of the other top clubs has led to Arsenal dropping down the pecking order at the elite end of the English game.

"The best teams are at the top only because they have the best players and to get those players you have to spend a lot of money," he said.

"You can't be successful in football without money. This is the football business."

I do not agree with him. I think that he has just focused on money and did not think of the matter that he could have become another legend in London. Manchester City is just spending money freely but it is still unsure whether they can have more success than Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger: Keeping the Players We Have is the First Priority

(This entry was originally published on Saturday, January 10th, 2009)

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he will not sell any player in January transfer window and his first priority is to ensure the current players stay at the club, before going to buy new player. For the last couple of weeks, there was a rumor that Kolo Toure was going to leave Arsenal and join Manchester City, who were reportedly ready to pay about £10 million for Toure, following Toure’s recent fall out with former captain William Gallas. After that Toure also requested Arsenal for a move, but later on he came out of his stand and decided to stay. Perhaps, that is the reason, Wenger handed Kolo Toure the captain’s arm band in Arsenal’s recent 1-0 premier league victory over Bolton Wanderers in the absence of injured regular captain Cesc Fabregas.

Arsene Wenger has also hinted that he would not buy any defender in January and it seems that his only target in January transfer window is Russian striker Andrei Arshavin. Arsenal has reported made a bid of £12m for the Zenit midfielder, but the amount is still unmatched with £20 million demanded by Zenit. Wenger has also warned Zenit that Arsenal can not spend the money that they don’t have. Now, let us see if Andrei Arshavin can really move to Arsenal in January transfer window.

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Arsenal to Let Kolo Toure Leave, If Matthew Upson Joins Arsenal?

(This entry was originally published on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009)

It seems Kolo Toure’s future at Arsenal now depends on the Gunners’ success in their bid to sign former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson from West Ham United. In the wake of a reported fall out between Toure and fellow central defender William Gallas, it is believed that Toure now wants to leave Emirates and Manchester United has already made a bid worth £8 million for the Ivory Coast international, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger does not want to let one of his best defenders go before bringing in someone of same quality. No doubt, Matthew Upson fits the bill to the fullest, but West Ham United has showed no interest to sell their biggest asset.

However, if Arsenal can offer in the region of £10 million, then West Ham might consider it seriously as the Hammers are running short of money at this moment. Meanwhile, Manchester City might also be ready to pay an amount around £10 million to sing Kolo Toure. So, the equation is that if Arsenal gets the green light from West Ham United for Upson, then so would Manchester City from Arsenal for Toure. Well, it is still a report which neither of the clubs confirmed officially. So, you can take it as another rumor out there in the busy January transfer window.

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Manchester City Interested to Sign Arsenal Defender Kolo Toure

Following the Arab take-over in last Summer, Manchester City now seems to emerge as a new power of English Premier League. Going for star players with big-money offers is not a big deal for Manchester City anymore as its Arab owners are ready to make large amount deals. In fact, they already showed it by signing Brazilian forward Robinho from Real Madrid, breaking the British transfer record. Now, Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is one of their next big targets in the January transfer window. It has also been reported that Manchester City has plans to recruit 5 more players during the winter transfer window.

Mark Hughes wants to bolster his defense line up by adding Kolo Toure in the squad. Currently Micah Richards and Richard Dunne are the regular choices for Manchester City’s central defense positions. However, their performance has not been very impressive recently, even though they were excellent in their 3-0 triumph over Arsenal recently. Earlier, it was reported that Manchester City would make a £60 bid for Chelsea Captain John Terry, but now it seems to be unlikely to happen as they have already set their target at Toure. I guess, City’s Arab owners might have found Terry’s age too much to make a bid worth £60. Now, let us see if Manchester City can make a successful attempt to sign Arsenal defender Kolo Toure.

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