Five targets Manchester City should pursue this January.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
With Joe Hart looking badly below par at the moment for Manchester City, the club are bound to be in the market for a new goalkeeper this January, and may look to pounce on the surprising situation at Real Madrid, which sees Iker Casillas, one of the finest goalkeepers in the world, regularly left out of the side. The 32-year-old was first dropped after a dispute with Jose Mourinho last season, but he has surprisingly continued to be left on the bench by new manager Carlo Ancelotti this season, and with the World Cup in Brazil next summer fast approaching it is no surprise to see a number of clubs linked with signing him in January.
City could be one of the few clubs who could afford a player of this calibre, and they would be wise to take advantage of this unique opportunity to snap up a world class shot-stopper, who would certainly be an upgrade on Hart on current form.
Asmir Begovic (Stoke City)
Another option in that position for Manchester City could be one of the best up-and-coming goalkeepers in the Premier League, Stoke City’s Asmir Begovic. Manuel Pellegrini’s predecessor Roberto Mancini had reportedly lined up the talented Bosnian shot-stopper as a replacement for Hart after the England no.1’s struggles last season, though he never got a chance to sign him after being sacked by the club in May.
Pellegrini initially decided to stick with Hart for the season, though he may be changing his mind now after continued clangers from the 26-year-old, and Begovic is surely going to be leaving Stoke sooner or later, having shown himself to be capable of playing for a far bigger club. The Potters, of course, also have promising youngster Jack Butland waiting in the wings as Begovic’s replacement, which means Stoke could be persuaded to sell their star player for a reasonable price this January.
With so many goalkeepers being linked to City at the moment, it’s hard to know who they’ll go for, but Begovic is certainly up there with the best of them at the moment, and Pellegrini may want to act fast before a number of other clubs watching him make their move.
Kyriakos Papadopoulos (Schalke)
This outstanding young defender has attracted a great deal of interest from several top clubs in recent times, Manchester City included, and with Manuel Pellegrini’s current defensive woes Kyriakos Papadopoulos could be a great addition when the transfer window re-opens for business in January.
The 21-year-old Greek international has been a superbly solid player at the back for Schalke since joining the club in 2010, immediately becoming a regular in the side despite his youth, having previously impressed as well at previous club Olympiacos. Although Schalke also face the prospect of possible losing another star youngster in Julian Draxler this January, they are supposedly more open to negotiating the sale of Papadopoulos, and admitted they expected a bid to come in from Liverpool during the summer.
With City’s struggles at the back at the moment, a new signing could freshen things up and make the likes of Matija Nastasic fight harder for their place in the starting lineup, and Papadopoulos would certainly be an upgrade on Joleon Lescott or Javi Garcia, who has filled in at centre-back on occasion this season.
Pepe (Real Madrid)
A top target for Manchester City during the summer, Pepe could become a target for them again this January as they consider several options to improve their defence. This highly experienced Portuguese international may be heading towards the twilight of his career, but he looks a great short-term signing to ensure Matija Nastasic isn’t rushed into becoming first choice, with the youngster struggling to reproduce his fine form of last season.
Pellegrini knows Pepe well from his time as manager of Real Madrid, and if the Chilean could manage to bag both him and Casillas, there is no doubt his back four would look in much better shape, with players who will know each other and their manager well. The move failed to go through in the previous transfer window due to disagreements over a fee, but City would be well advised to step up their interest in Pepe this time round and bring in this proven top class defender to the Etihad Stadium.
Stephan El Shaarawy (AC Milan)
One of the most outstanding young players in the world at the moment, Manchester City have been linked several times with AC Milan forward Stephan El Shaarawy. With the 20-year-old’s superb performances both out wide and upfront for the Italian giants, it is no surprise to see the huge interest he is generating.
Arsenal and Tottenham could also move for El Shaarawy this January, as it seems possible that Milan will be willing to make him available for the right price. If that is the case, City should do everything they can to swoop in ahead of their rivals to sign this terrific young talent. The Italian international would certainly be an upgrade on Edin Dzeko upfront, and although he would undoubtedly face plenty of competition from the likes of Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic, his tremendous ability means he could also play out wide and give this City side a bit more width and end-product from the wings, with goal-shy Jesus Navas still adapting to the Premier League, and David Silva suffering from fatigue from being played so much for club and country over the last few years.
A luxury signing perhaps, but El Shaarawy is a luxury City can afford, and he would surely be worth it if the Sky Blues can ensure he doesn’t end up moving to one of their rivals.