Toure talks to wait - Pellegrini

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he will not discuss the future of midfielder Yaya Toure until a more appropriate time.

Toure's agent was quoted on Thursday as saying his client was "90 per cent" certain to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

"We talk about the next season in the right moment," he said at a pre-match news conference.

"Yaya has a contract here until 2017. We are focussed on our team and the players."

Van Gaal: I was forced to sign Depay

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he was "forced" to sign Memphis Depay to prevent him from joining Paris Saint-Germain.

Depay joins Manchester United

It was confirmed on Thursday that winger Depay would move to Old Trafford from PSV for an undisclosed fee, an announcement that ended 12 months of speculation linking the 21-year-old with a transfer to the Premier League.

Van Gaal insists that - in an ideal world - he would not have delved into the transfer market until the end of the season. 

"I have been forced to sign him," he said. "I don't want to sign before the end of the season because we have to focus on our games and, when you sign a player, you disturb the focus of your present group pf players.

"And the coming matches are very important for Manchester United.

"Because of the market, I must handle because he would have signed for PSG. That's why I signed Memphis Depay."

"At that time he was not reached by me because I don't want to speak with players before the season has been ended," he added. "I have also a feeling towards my players.

"But now, because of the close relationship I have with the management of PSV, I could handle it."

Manchester United will have to pay an astonishing £160m to bring Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, back to Old Trafford. 

Thursday's Football Gossip:

Cristiano Ronaldo, Nicolás Otamendi, Marco Reus, Marouane Fellaini, James Milner, Luis Suarez - See more at: http://allscores.co.uk/Gossip.html#sthash.th8D81mM.dpuf

AllScores Football Blog: Tuesday's Football Gossip:

AllScores Football Blog: Tuesday's Football Gossip:: Manchester United still want Vidal , Manchester City keen on Everton youngster Ross Barkley , Man Utd want Ron Vlaar and Real Madrid ta...

Tuesday's Football Gossip:

Manchester United still want Vidal, Manchester City keen on Everton youngster Ross Barkley, Man Utd want Ron Vlaar and Real Madrid target Chelsea's Ramires, plus more. 

Wenger hits out at Ozil critics

Wenger hits out at Ozil critics

Arsene Wenger says it is unfair that Mesut Ozil has been made a "scapegoat" after Arsenal's 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

The 25-year-old came in for criticism following Tuesday's loss in the UEFA Champions League, with former Germany captain Michael Ballack describing his performance as "lacklustre".

But ahead of Saturday's trip to Aston Villa, Wenger has come out in defence of Ozil, urging patience with Arsenal's club-record signing as he looks to regain full fitness following Germany's successful World Cup campaign.

"The criticism is unfair because it's post-World Cup," Wenger told a news conference on Friday. "It takes a few months for them to get back to their best.

"Fans need to be patient. You want your best players in every game but you have to be united and go through hard periods.

"Why should Ozil be a scapegoat? We've lost one game since April 1. We had very difficult games against teams like Besiktas.

"Everybody judges players on one game but football is played with many ups and downs."

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