Toure wants RVP at City

Manchester City’s Kolo Toure believes Arsenal striker Robin van Persie would be a terrific signing in the club’s bid for European success.

Speculation on van Persie’s future has raged after he announced he would not renew his contract with the North London club on Wednesday and big-spending City are one of the favourites to sign the 28-year-old who scored 30 English Premier League goals last season.

Roberto Mancini’s side won the Premier League on a dramatic final day just two months ago but they bombed out of the European Champions League in the group stages.

In addition to further league success, City will place extra significance on their performances in Europe and Toure – who played with van Persie at Arsenal – feels he would help them in their bid to conquer the continent.

“Robin is a top player,” Toure told the Manchester Evening News.

“I’ve played with him, I know him and he’s a great man. At City we have great players and the club does what it wants in transfers.

“But, for me, if Robin comes it’s great because I know what he can do. You have to build your squad every year to do better. To win the Champions League is very difficult as we have seen.”

It appears that Arsenal will play hard to get over van Persie’s future though, with the forward still having a year remaining on his contract.

“We have to respect Robin’s decision not to renew his contract,” a statement on Arsenal’s official website said.

“Robin has one year to run on his current contract and we are confident that he will fulfil his commitments to the club.”