Toure, though, will not be short of suitors and could in fact be made the third highest earner in world football if he accepts an offer to become the latest star to move to China.
It is understood that at least three Chinese clubs have already expressed an interest in signing Toure with one, thought to be Jiangsu Suning, discussing the prospect of paying the player £30m-a-year after tax.
That would see Toure earn £576,923-a-week in China, which is more than double his current £240,000-a-week salary at City.
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is the highest earner in world football on £47.8m-a-year, while Cristiano Ronaldo is estimated to collect £39.7m-a-year at Real Madrid.
But the money on offer in China would put Toure ahead of the current third-best paid player in the world, Neymar, who is paid £26.8m-a-year by Barcelona.
Such a lucrative contract would certainly ease the blow of being squeezed out of City by Guardiola, but Toure will receive offers from all over the globe and may need convincing that, aged 32, China represents his best option.
City could expect to recoup a good fee for Toure from a club in China, despite the fact the Ivorian will only have a year remaining on his contract at the end of the season.
Chinese Super League clubs are currently throwing money at footballers based in Europe and South America, with Jiangsu spending over £20m to sign Ramires from Chelsea and paying the midfielder £10m-a-year net.
Chelsea captain John Terry could earn around £20m-a-year after tax by finishing his career in China, while Shanghai SIPG, managed by Sven Goran Eriksson, were prepared to pay Wayne Rooney £25m-a-year to tempt him away from Manchester United but the England captain is not interested.
Super-agent Jorge Mendes has already established business links in China, while Pini Zahavi has also been active in trying to identify and take players to the Far East.
The future of Toure will certainly be one of the most pressing issues for Guardiola, who will inform striker Wilfried Bony and central defender Eliaquim Mangala that they are not part of his plans and are free to leave the club.
Despite the insistence of associates that his agent Dimitry Seluk does not speak for the player when he says he will leave City in the summer, there are clearly differences between Toure and Guardiola that date back to their days at Barcelona.
Interactive: Guardiola v Pellegrini
In 2014, Toure was quoted by a Spanish radio station as saying: “Whenever I asked him (Guardiola) something, he always gave me strange answers. He pretty much ignored me until City’s offer came in.
“That’s why I eventually opted to leave. I didn’t speak to Guardiola for a year. If he had talked to me, I would have stayed at Barcelona.
“I did not want to go and wanted to end my career at Barcelona. However, he had no faith in me.”
Guardiola opted to play defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets ahead of Toure at Barca and, following the confirmation that the Bayern Munich manager will replace Manuel Pellegrini at City, Seluk launched his latest outspoken rant.
“I think Yaya will leave the club,” said Seluk, much to the frustration of some of Toure’s allies. “But before leaving I hope he will win again the League and all the cups.
“It’s not a question of whether Pep likes him or not. It’s life, you know. Pep can call Yaya and speak to him to let him know ‘I’m with you’ or ‘I am not with you’.”
Toure has often been accused of neglecting his defensive midfield duties and, as outlined by Telegraph Sport on Tuesday, Guardiola is unlikely to accommodate any player who cannot carry out his instructions.
Despite his defensive deficiencies, Toure has still netted decisive goals for City this season – against Norwich City and Watford – and he will be remembered as an important player in the club’s history when he leaves.
Toure is trying to win a third Premier League title with City this season and a second FA Cup. He won the 2009 Champions League while at Barca.
Pep Guardiola timeline
- Telegraph