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Toure’s current £200,000-a-week deal runs until 2017 and makes him one of the highest paid stars in the Premier League.But the champions are desperate to keep the 31-year-old at the club until he retires.Starsport understands chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak is willing to offer the Ivory Coast ace a deal that also includes a coaching and ambassadorial role once he hangs up his boots.Toure has become one of the most influential stars in the club’s history since joining City from Barcelona in 2010.He has helped them win two Premier League titles as well as both domestic cups and has just returned after leading his country to Africa Cup of Nations glory earlier this month.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini has attempted to play down the importance of Toure this season by insisting City are not a one-man team.But senior figures at the club were reminded of his value again at the start of the year when Pellegrini’s men failed to win in six games while he was on international duty.Toure was also badly missed on Tuesday night when he was suspended for the crushing 2-1 home defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League.The likes of Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero and Joe Hart have all signed new and improved deals in the last 12 months.And Al-Mubarak is now keen to secure the long-term future of Toure as well.

Meanwhile, disgruntled fans have blamed Pellegrini - and not the players - for this week’s home loss to Barca.Pellegrini’s decision to start the game with two strikers and drop midfielder Fernandinho left many baffled.Barca scored twice before half time and even though Aguero pulled a goal back after the break and Hart saved a stoppage time spot kick from Lionel Messi, Pellegrini’s men face crashing out of the competition before the quarter-final stage again.A poll has now revealed that almost 60 per cent of fans blame Pellegrini and his tactics instead of the performance of the team.The fact most fans believe Pellegrini let them down raises fresh questions about the Chilean’s future at the Etihad and whether or not he is the right man to take them forward.Starsport, first revealed in November that City are keen on Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone.