NEWS NEWS BLOG SPORT looks at what Manchester City could do in the January transfer market.
 |
| Manchester City have been very inconsistent so far in this campaign |
But they are the only team still playing in four competitions and progression as group winners in the Champions League was a massive boost for City.
A 2-1 defeat at Arsenal just before Christmas means they’re third going into the festive fixtures, six points behind surprise leaders Leicester.
Rumours of Pep Guardiola being lined up as Manuel Pellegrini’s summer replacement, whatever the Chilean can accomplish this season, could unsettle their star studded squad.
They face Dynamo Kiev in the last 16 of the Champions League and Everton in the League Cup semi-finals, so things aren’t as bleak at the Etihad as some might think.
What do they need?
Manuel Pellegrini said he wasn’t planning on much spending in the transfer window but with four competitions to play for and a growing list of injuries to key men, notably Sergio Aguero, may force him to play his hand in January.
Aguero and Wilfried Bony are the only two established out and out strikers at the club, with 19-year-old Nigerian Kelechi Iheanacho still finding his feet at the top level.
Their midfield is very strong but the heart of their defence looks very weak without their captain Vincent Kompany.
Whatever Pellegrini might say, City look vulnerable without him. He’s world class when fully fit. Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala are just not the same gravy. Perhaps another move to find a world class centre back?
How much can they spend?
This is Man City. The sky’s the limit.
Who might they sign?
Spanish reports suggested that City were lining up an approach for Barcelona star Lionel Messi but that still remains highly unlikely given his huges wages and astronomical release fee. Even a club with the spending power of City would not surely be willing to spend more than £200million on a player. Even it is Messi.
The form of Jamie Vardy has captured everyone's imagination in football and the bigger Premier League clubs have noticed. City could make a move for Vardy with Aguero injured, Bony unsettled and a shortage of strikers to lead the front line.
Vardy, worth approximately £30m, a low asking price for City, could come into Pellegrini's thoughts if they start January poorly.
 |
| Manchester City could target Jamie Vardy from Leicester to boost their front line |
Who could leave?
There will always be plenty of departures at City, given the huge size of the squad, but one man who could leave is potentially the Ivory Coast striker Bony, who was very annoyed with Pellegrini for not selecting him from the start against Arsenal.
The nature of City's revolving door suggests a move within a year of signing is not out of the question, especially with the links to Vardy.
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus