Wednesday 30 December 2015 11:10, UK
Could Manchester City dip into the January transfer market to boost their Premier League title chances?
Manuel Pellegrini has been tight-lipped on the subject in recent weeks, but there has been plenty of speculation about possible new arrivals.
Here, we assess their January transfer prospects and look at some of the names to have been linked with the Etihad Stadium…
DEFENCE
From Kolo Toure to Nicolas Otamendi, City have spent upwards of £135m on central defenders since the arrival of Vincent Kompany in 2008. But despite the huge investment, they still look vulnerable in the absence of their captain, whose injury problems have shown no sign of abating.
Crystal Palace, Stoke and Watford are among the teams to have conceded fewer goals than City this season, and their goalless draw with Leicester on Tuesday was the first time they have kept a clean sheet in 10 games without Kompnay.
If they decide to pursue further reinforcements in January, the Manchester Evening News say Everton's John Stones would feature highly on their list. The England international is young, talented and has Premier League pedigree, but, as Chelsea found out in the summer, he does not come cheaply. The Blues had a string of bids rejected in August, with Everton valuing him at well over £40m.
With Aleksandar Kolarov, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta all aged 30 or over, could City also look for a more youthful addition at full-back? According to his agent, City are scouting 22-year-old Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac with a view to a possible January move. "I think Kolasinac will leave Schalke in January, but I don't know where he will go," his representative Gordon Stipic-Wipfler recently told La Roma.
Bacary Sagna has urged Manchester City fans to keep faith with Eliaquim Mangala.
"Roma are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and they have been keeping a close eye on the player. It has to be said, though, that there are other great clubs from the Premier League interested in Kolasinac, like Manchester City for example." Kolasinac has made 13 appearances for Schalke this season, scoring one goal. He is valued at around £6m.
MIDFIELD
Newspaper reports in England and Italy linked City with a move for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba throughout the summer, although the speculation has cooled in recent months. The France international would command a huge transfer fee, with his agent Mino Raiola saying in November that the Italian side would not listen to bids any lower than £70m.
According to Sport, Real Madrid's Isco might be a more realistic target. On Tuesday, a report in the Spanish newspaper said City's chief executive Ferran Soriano had travelled to Madrid to discuss a possible deal for the Spain international with Real's general manager Jose Angel Sanchez.
Another name to have been linked with City is Sevilla's Ever Banega. In October, The Sun ran a story saying Manuel Pellegrini was been impressed by the Argentine midfielder's performances against City in the Champions League group stages.
ATTACK
With Sergio Aguero struggling to stay injury-free and Wilfried Bony yet to convince he is a reliable back-up option, there have been reports that City could recruit another proven goalscorer in the January transfer window.
According to The Sun, Manuel Pellegrini is eager to push through a £30m move for Leicester City's Jamie Vardy. The 28-year-old has been in deadly form this season, setting a new Premier League record by netting in 11 consecutive games and firing the Foxes to the top of the table with 15 goals in 18 appearances overall.
The newspaper claim City are also monitoring Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has smashed 24 goals in 23 appearances for the German outfit this season, while Barcelona superstar Neymar says he is aware of interest from the Citizens - although the Brazilian's huge price-tag makes a January move extremely unlikely.
