If one of the Toure brothers was for sale, it’s pretty clear that most Liverpool fans would prefer to get young sibling Yaya.

But if the rumours circulating are true, Kolo will be joining the Reds on a free transfer at the end of the season.

A key member of Arsenal’s Invincible side in 2004 and one half of a defensive partnership with Philippe Senderos that helped the Gunners to the 2006 Champions League final, the Ivory Coast international’s star has faded considerably since moving to Manchester City four years ago.

It’s an interesting move from Liverpool as Brendan Rodgers tries to beef up his backline which has been shorn of Jamie Carragher and could see Martin Skrtel depart.

Toure’s core fitness may be an issue, having made just 10 league starts this season and also missed a bulk of 2011 due to a six month drug ban after taking his wife’s slimming pills.

In truth he has not been a regular for the guts of two years, although his vast experience is a bonus.

Can he fit into Rodgers’ style of play? Having served under Arsene Wenger for seven years, his distribution is good with a pass completion rate of 88 per cent, which is lower than Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel’s tally. However his pass completion rate in the opposition half is far higher than the Slovakian this season with Toure on 78 per cent and Skrtel on 72 per cent.

One major weakness is Toure’s strength in the air. For a defender he is of average height at 6 foot and has one just 40 per cent of his aerial battles this season.

Compare that to Agger (61 per cent), Carragher (60 per cent) or Skrtel (70 per cent). That is a concern given Liverpool’s vulnerability at set pieces and corners.

The Reds have also been linked with Greece international Kyriakos Papadopoulos. The 21-year-old has long been regarded as one of the best young defenders in world football and has Champions League experience with Schalke 04 and Euro 2012 with his country.

Like Toure he is not especially tall for a centre-half at in or around 1m83, but he is strong in the air, winning over 80 per cent of his aerial battles in the Bundesliga this season. His tenacity and physical strength is also a plus.

However his season was curtailed because of a serious knee injury that has confined him to 10 league matches. In fact, he has not played at all in 2013, last appearing against Hamburg last November.

Overall he can fit into Rodgers’ system as his distribution is solid with a success rate of 89 per cent, while 74 per cent of his long balls were accurate.

His age makes a move attractive for the Reds even taking the €12 million fee into account as he is already highly-rated, with much scope for improvement