Kolo Toure’s arrival at Eastlands yesterday may go some way to encourage City fans’ own dreams of the top four next season but it appears to do little for us fantasy managers.

The former Arsenal man turns up at City with his inflated Arsenal fantasy price tag, immediately making him the most expensive option in their defence. More significantly his arrival creates further uncertainty when it comes to both the Arsenal and City team sheets…

Mark Hughes will surely start with Toure but, like so many areas at so many clubs this season, City’s defence is beginning to look crowded with options. The ink on Nedum Onuoha’s new five-year deal is hardly dry after yesterday’s announcement that he was staying put. Hughes also has club skipper Richard Dunne, Vincent Kompany and even Micah Richards to accommodate. Then there’s the fact that City went in wiith a third unsuccessful bid for Everton’s Jolean Lescott yesterday. It appears that, just like in his attack, Hughes has a desire to have fierce competition and plentiful options for starting roles in his defence, despite the lack of European football this term.

True enough Onuoha and Richards could compete for the right-back role with Zabaleta. Similarly Kompany can fight it out for central midfield spots with Barry and De Jong. That just compounds the fact that everywhere you look, City have options. Great for Hughes. Not so great for any fantasy manager contemplating a risky ride on the City bandwagon. A bandwagon that is gradually picking up speed with every swish of the cheque book.

We can of course look at this another way. Toure’s arrival potentially shores up a defence that failed badly at times last season, particularly away from Eastlands. A greater defensive resolve equals more clean sheets, which in turn increases the appeal of those City defenders assured of starts. At the risk of sounding like a perma-tanned WAG wannabe – Wayne Bridge and in particular, Shay Given, look more attractive to me this morning.

Surely the Arsenal situation is clearer now though? True enough, Toure’s departure appears to leave the way clear for a Gallas/Vermaelen partnership in defence, with Djourou as back-up. However, Wenger will surely spend and recruit in this area and if he brings in proven class – step forward Brede Hangeland – then suddenly the Arsenal defence goes the way of so many others. It becomes a muddle of uncertainty. This is looking like a tough season.