Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Ligue 1 champions’ coveted holding midfield player is now one of the most sought-after players in his position on the Continent after turning in a string of eye-catching displays for both club and county in the last three years, so much so that the big-spending Premier League outfit are now expected to try to lure the 26-year-old to Eastlands at the turn of the year to help provide further protection to their at times porous back line.
Asmir Begovic (Stoke City)
The in-form Bosnian shot stopper has been heavily linked with the Blues for some time now, with former City assistant manager David Platt even revealing after leaving Eastlands last summer that ex-manager Roberto Mancini would have attempted to bring the 26-year-old to the north west for this season as a replacement for No 1 Joe Hart had the Italian not been relieved of his duties at the end of the previous campaign.