With the winter transfer window now less than a month away from opening again, we take a look at ten possible new recruits that the Blues are eyeing up in January.
Victor Valdes (FC Barcelona)
With the continuing future of England international Joe Hart at Eastlands still in some doubt, the north-west club have been linked with a whole host of big-name shot stoppers in recent weeks, including the La Liga champions’ No 1 who has already made it clear that he will definitely be leaving Camp Nou to try out a new challenge in his career at the end of this current season.
Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma)
The in-demand and highly rated Italy international may have been with the Serie A giants for his whole career to date, however, rumours have also been circulating of late suggesting that the versatile midfield player, who can also operate as a makeshift centre back if needs be, is now unhappy with life at the Stadio Olimpico and make look for a move away from the Italian capital in the new year, with Eastlands thought to be his most likely destination if that happens.
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.
Eliaquim Mangala (FC Porto)
Another area of the team that new City boss Manuel Pellegrini is known to be desperate to strengthen is at centre back, especially following the raft of muscle-related injuries that club captain Vincent Kompany has suffered from so far this season.
And the central defender that the experienced Chilean trainer is understood to be eyeing up is the 22-year-old France international who has emerged recently as one of the most impressive and classy players in his position on Planet Football, so much so that the Portuguese champions have inserted a whopping £40m buyout clause in his current contract at the Drago, that runs until June 2016.
Robert Lewandowski (Bayer Leverkusen)
With City expected to allow forward Edin Dzeko to leave the north west when the winter transfer window opens again for business in the new year, the mega-rich Premier League team will therefore be in need of a replacement attacker for the Bosnian, with the name of the prolific Poland international having been heavily mentioned of late in the same sentence as the Blues.
Willy Caballero (Malaga)
Another in-form goalkeeper who City are understood to be heavily interested in is the 32-year-old Argentinian, who is currently enjoying a sensational campaign in La Liga for the Southern Spanish outfit and who Blues head coach Manuel Pellegrini also knows well from his time spent in charge of Malaga.
Diego Godin (Atletico de Madrid)
Highly experienced Uruguay international central defender who has played 75 times for his country and could very well be the answer to City’s current problems at the back at Eastlands in the future in the continued injury-enforced absence of Belgium international centre-back Vincent Kompany.
Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
The world’s best and most decorated keeper still finds himself warming the substitutes’ bench at the Santiago Bernabeu under new los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti, at least in La Liga, and with the 32-year-old believed to be concerned about losing his starting spot in goal for the Spanish national team at next summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil, the shot stopper is expected to depart the Spanish capital in January in search of guaranteed first-team football.
And the Spain international’s next port of call is thought most likely to be Eastlands as City continue their own long-running search for a new keeper to replace the error-prone Joe Hart.
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
The brilliant, classy and silky smooth Germany international may have a contract with the Bundesliga giants that runs until June 30 2017, however, that has still not stopped the big-spending Premier League side from exploring the possibility of being able to lure the 24-year-old centre back to the north west when the winter transfer window opens again for business in January.