Kolo Touré set for Manchester City exit after talks with Bursaspor

Kolo Touré: Has not regained his first-team place after six-month ban (Getty Images)

Manchester City defender Kolo Touré is in talks with Bursaspor over a move to Turkey.

Touré was a £16m arrival from Arsenal three years ago and remains one of the most popular players at City. However, he has never recovered his first-team spot after being forced to spend six months on the sidelines following a failed drugs test, which was blamed on the 31-year-old taking one of his wife's slimming products.

Touré did make enough appearances to qualify for a Premier League title winner's medal last season. However, with captain Vincent Kompany and England's Joleon Lescott now established as manager Roberto Mancini's first-choice defensive pairing, Touré is open to the prospect of a move.

Bursaspor, where England keeper Scott Carson plies his trade, have emerged as an option. "We have been in talks with Kolo Touré over the past two days - it would be one of the most important transfers to be completed by an Anatolian side," the Bursaspor manager Ertugrul Saglam said.

"Obviously nothing is certain until he signs pen to paper, however we are working hard to try finalise a deal." Although City would be left with only Stefan Savic as direct cover, and the Montenegrin had plenty of critics last season, Micah Richards is capable of playing in central defence.