Yaya Toure latest: Manchester City midfielder wants to stay at the club 'for as long as possible'

Powerful midfielder has been linked with an exit from the Etihad

Yaya Touré has defended his posturing over his future at Manchester City (Getty Images)

Yaya Toure has said that he will honour his contract at Manchester City and stay at the club "for as long as possible".

The 31-year-old was sensational last season, scoring 20 Premier League goals as City captured the title in Manuel Pellegrini's first season in charge.

Toure was said to be unhappy at the club and has been linked with an exit but told Sky Sports he would be staying.

"City have always been good with me and always have been good with my family," the Ivorian told Sky Sports News.

"I will honour my contract at City and stay as long as possible.

"Don't think about the speculation, for what the fans and club have done for me I need to stay. I am looking forward to the season.

"It's a big pleasure to stay with this club."

Speculation about Toure leaving the Etihad began at the end of last season, when his agent Dimitri Seluk said Toure was left "very upset" because the club had failed to wish him a happy 31st birthday.

The next step in the saga came when Toure blasted the club in his column for France Football claiming they had not allowed him to spend time with his late brother Ibrahim before he lost his battle with cancer.

"I confess that I am still very sad. I’m suffering because I feel I have done nothing useful for him the last few weeks," he wrote.

Toure was said to be unhappy after the club had apparently not wished him a happy birthday and not allowed him to visit his dying brother (Getty Images)

"At the end of the season, I wanted to stay for four or five days with my brother before I flew to prepare for the World Cup with Ivory Coast, except that City did not want to give me a few days.

"I went to celebrate the title championship in Abu Dhabi while my brother was in his sickbed. By fortune, Kolo was at his bedside. After that I blame myself for not insisting and for not leading them to respect me."

Manchester United are reported to have made a shock move for Toure, while City are believed to have been lining up Ross Barkley as a replacement, with Jack Rodwell possibly going back to Everton, while Paris Saint-Germain have been chasing Toure all summer.

But the midfielder has now ended speculation moving him with a link away as he intends to honour his £250,000-per-week contract.