Manuel Pellegrini believes Yaya Toure can still find the challenges he wants at Manchester City.

Toure, City’s midfield driving force in recent seasons, was quoted this week as saying he was open to “new challenges”.

That has been interpreted as a hint he could look to move on, while the Ivorian’s agent Dimitri Seluk has also made critical comments about the club.

The scenario seems familiar with both Toure and Seluk having been outspoken about the club in each of the past two summers.

Despite that, Toure has remained at City and Pellegrini claims to see no reason why that should not remain the case.

Pellegrini said: “Maybe the new challenge is at City also. There are lot of different places you can have it but City also is a challenge and I am sure Yaya is very happy here.

“We have a project here, every year we are trying to improve.

“Maybe you cannot win titles every year but I think the project of the club is to improve the squad, to improve as a club so there are a lot of important things and I think it is an important challenge.”

Pellegrini, speaking at a media conference to preview today’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa, did not want to comment specifically on Seluk.

The Ukrainian agent last week described Pellegrini “as a good coach, but a weak manager”.

Pellegrini said: “You already asked me the same question. I say the same answer. I don’t talk about Yaya’s agent. Everyone can talk what he wants.”

Pellegrini’s future has been the subject of speculation of late given City’s collapse in the title race.

But with fifth-placed Liverpool seven points behind, Pellegrini insists he is looking upwards to Man. United, whom they trail by a point.

The Chilean said: “I am more interested in trying to discount one point than to lose seven. It is a positive mind.”