Manchester City’s ideal XI following the January window

Yaya Toure

At 33 years of age, Yaya Toure still has something to offer Manchester City, and Guardiola should stick by him for the remainder of the campaign.

The former Ivorian international was excluded from the squad at the start of the season due to disagreements between Guardiola and his agent, yet he was brought back in to the team for the trip to Crystal Palace back in November, and netted a brace in a man-of-the-match display.

His contract runs out at the end of the campaign but, with Ilkay Gundogan out injured until the summer, Guardiola will need Toure’s strength and vision, as well as the odd lung-bursting run, in the middle of the park.

The 33-year-old is still a quality player who has experience of success in England – he still has something to offer.