Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 9y

Yaya Toure and James Milner futures at Man City uncertain - Pellegrini

MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini changed his tune about Yaya Toure as he refused to guarantee the midfielder will be at Manchester City next season.

The City manager had always said that the 32-year-old would remain at the Etihad Stadium but the Ivorian's agent, Dimitri Seluk, has said there is a "90 percent chance" he will leave. 

Inter Milan have expressed their confidence they will sign the former Barcelona player, while Paris Saint-Germain have also been mooted as potential buyers.

Pellegrini is also waiting to discover if James Milner -- who is out of contract in the summer -- will stay.

Asked specifically if he expects to keep the unsettled Toure, he replied in a news conference: "The same as James Milner. We have to analyse the whole squad at the end of the season and then we will see which is the best for the club and the player."

Pellegrini expects there will be a summer auction for the services of Raheem Sterling, who has rejected a new contract at Liverpool, and who seems to want to leave Anfield.

Sources have told ESPN FC that City are firm favourites to land the England international, but Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have also been linked with the 20-year-old.

"There are a lot of very important players that maybe all the teams want," Pellegrini said. "We finish the season tomorrow. After that we will see what we need and which players can come here."

Pellegrini welcomed UEFA president Michel Platini's announcement that the rules of financial fair play could be relaxed. 

City were punished for breaching FFP as they were limited to a £49 million net spend in the transfer market for the year and fined.

Pellegrini, who has always insisted the sanction was unfair, added: "All the rules about financial fair play must be clear and Platini is saying he make some changes because maybe they have some problems in the past.

"I don't see why we have restrictions with our club when we don't have debt with anyone. I am glad to review it. I never understand which are the rules of financial fair play."

The Chilean is looking forward to a summer when he believes there will be a level playing field in the transfer market again.

"Against Chelsea or Arsenal or [Manchester] United, if you have restrictions and the other clubs don't have them of course it is an advantage [for them]," he said. "This year we will all be in the same condition and we will see which is the team that works more to have a strong squad."

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