Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, who is now five months into his second spell in the Inter Milan hotseat, is likely to embark on an overhaul of his under-performing squad this summer.
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Stranded almost halfway down the Serie A table, the Italian heavyweights will demand much more next term and Mancini, who led the Blues to their first ever Premier League title as well as FA Cup glory during a lively three-and-a-half year tenure, could capitalise on a potential clear-out at the Etihad Stadium.
The fact that the majority of the champions’ regular starters were acquired during Mancini’s time at the helm has been used a stick with which to beat current incumbent Manuel Pellegrini, and many of the individuals in question produced some fine football under ‘Bobby Manc’.
Here are four players who could swap the Etihad for the San Siro during the summer transfer window:
4) Aleksandar Kolarov
Mancini was less than impressed with Wayne Bridge when he arrived at City towards the end of 2009 and six months later £19million man Kolarov joined the ranks from Lazio.
He brought a new dimension to the Citizens with his marauding runs, dangerous deliveries and stunning free-kicks, although his defensive qualities have been called into question over the last five years. Could be tempted to return to Serie A after a tough campaign under Pellegrini.
3) Micah Richards
Former England international Richards will be a free agent in June and there appears to be little or no chance of his parent club retaining his services when his current loan deal at Fiorentina comes to an end.
The 26-year-old has been hampered by muscle injuries over the last two seasons but there is a mutual respect between he and Mancini, under whom he produced by far his best and most consistent displays in a blue shirt.
2) Stevan Jovetic
Ex-Fiorentina forward Jovetic is one of only a handful of City first-team players who were not part of the Mancini era. The Montenegro international was one of the first to follow Pellegrini to the club, but injuries have restricted his progress in England.
Fitness setbacks have been less frequent this term but Pellegrini dropped him from the Champions League squad in favour of new acquisition Wilfried Bony in February, and Jovetic has hardly featured since. His exit seems inevitable and Serie A is the logical destination.
1) Yaya Toure
The Ivorian will go down as one of City’s all-time greats after five stellar years, laced with big-game goals including the winning strikes in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and final, which ended the club’s 35-year silverware drought.
His powers have diminished slightly this season and, at 31, he probably has one big move left in the locker. Mancini has gone on record to admit that Inter will try to buy him this summer, and if they can afford him it is perhaps the most likely bit of business between the two clubs in the coming months.