Kolo Toure
Wenger wants Toure back as a Gunner mcfc.co.uk

Arsene Wenger, the manger of English Premier League football club, is, it is believed, hoping to lure Dutch midfielder Nigel de Jong and Ivorian defender Kolo Toure, from rivals Manchester City. Wenger is banking on the Citizen's need to trim their squad and their wage bill, in order to comply with the soon-to-be-enforced Financial Fair Play regulations from UEFA.

Wenger should try and push for a January transfer, even if it does look unlikely, in order to afford both players minutes on the pitch and time to settle in.

The London club, who are looking to re-shape their midfield and add defensive options to cover their more creative players, will also bank on the fact that neither de Jong nor Toure are being afforded regular playing time at the Etihad Stadium.

Indeed, following manager Roberto Mancini's decision to pair Englishman Gareth Barry with Kolo's brother, Yaya Toure, in the centre of midfield, has meant the Dutch midfielder has had only three Premiership starts so far. Nigel de Jong will also be concerned that lack of playing time at Manchester City could affect his chances of being selected by the Dutch national team manager, Bert Van Marwijk, to represent his country at the 2012 European Championships.

The Gunners are also looking to add to their defensive options and the move for Kolo Toure could be a good one. Toure spent 7 years with Arsenal, before moving to his current club in 2009. The experienced centre-back has found it hard to break into the first team, particularly after returning from a nine-month ban for failing a drugs test and the excellent form of the club's first choice pair of Belgian Vincent Kompany and Englishman Joleon Lescott. In addition to the latter two, Arsenal also have German defender Per Mertesacker, who has struggled so far to cope with the Premiership way of life, and another Belgian, Thomas Vermaelen, who has just recovered from a serious injury.

Toure has also, according to a Caughtoffside report, been linked with French Ligue 1 clubs, Paris St. Germain and Olympique Marseille.

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