Skip to content

Should Manchester City keep Yaya Toure and James Milner?

Graphic

After a disappointing title defence, Manchester City are expected to be active in the summer transfer window – but can they afford to let Yaya Toure and James Milner leave?

Toure has been criticised this season and linked with a move to Inter Milan, while Milner is out of contract in the summer and could switch to a Premier League rival.

With the help of WhoScored.com, we check the stats to compare how Manchester City performed with and without the pair…

Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure stats

Despite reported interest from former City boss Roberto Mancini at Inter Milan, Toure’s agent recently told Sky Sports News HQ the midfielder would be staying with City. However, although a rating of 7.40 from WhoScored - enough to rank third at the club - certainly suggests he has offered plenty to the cause this season, Toure's performances have undoubtedly dropped from a fantastic 2013/14 campaign.

He has had a direct hand in just 11 league goals this season - of which just one has been an assist - compared to a massive 29 last time around and questions have been raised as to his application.

That doesn't change the fact that Manuel Pellegrini's side began to unravel when Toure left for the African Cup of Nations in January, with City dropping points courtesy of draws rather than defeats. City may have lost just one of the 11 matches he didn't start in the league compared to six when he did, but they also saw their win ratio drop substantially - from 70.4 per cent to 45.5 per cent. Replacing Toure's influence would be easier said than done.

James Milner

James Milner stats

Another player that may have waved goodbye to the City fans for the final time this season is Milner, whose contract at the club is set to expire. The England international is a fan favourite at the Etihad - and has been wherever he’s played – while his experience of top-flight football is vast.

If Sunday's win over Southampton was to be Milner's last for City, he signed off in fitting fashion, teeing up States-bound Frank Lampard to score in his final Premier League appearance. It was Milner’s seventh assist of the season - enough to equal the tally of David Silva - to accompany five league goals, despite the fact that just 18 of his 32 appearances came from the start.

With City losing just two of the 18 matches Milner started in 2014/15, and five of the 20 he didn't, it's obvious he still has a worth to the team. The midfielder will feel that he deserves more playing time, however, and following an increase in his WhoScored.com rating from a disappointing 2013/14 campaign of just 6.59 to 7.02, Milner has every right to feel that he should be a regular starter in the Premier League.

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings. You can follow all the scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with their new free-to-download app

Around Sky