Manchester City will look to strengthen in the January transfer window with three master pieces according to Fabrizio Romano
Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan David and Leroy Sane
Manchester City head into the January transfer window actively seeking to add to their squad.
In a break from windows past, the Blues are prepared to strengthen next month to bolster the ranks in a bid to revitalise the season. The weekend win over Leicester City was a welcome one for a City side who have struggled in recent months amid a spectacular fall off in form.
They remain in the top six in the Premier League and are still likely to earn a spot in the play-off round in the Champions League despite having won just two of their half dozen matches thus far. Boss Pep Guardiola is determined to restore City to the summit at home and abroad but accepts he will need a deeper squad to compete on all fronts. That could prompt January activity but it could also see the forward planning that has served City so well in recent years.
A host of big names are out of contract in the summer and from January 1, they are free to negotiate new deals. It means that City could orchestrate free transfer moves for talented stars in the coming days. Here we take a look at three who might catch the eye.
Joshua Kimmich
The 29-year-old remains a key player at Bayern under former City captain Vincent Kompany. But no new deal has been agreed and the Germany international worked with Guardiola in Bavaria.
The two have huge respect for each other and Kimmich is a top talent capable of playing in a variety of positions and offering strength to a City squad that needs more competition, particularly in central midfield.
Jonathan David
The Canada international has scored 101 goals in 209 games for Lille. A healthy 17 of those have arrived this season and he’s now netted 43 in 18 months.
At 24, he is a good age and would offer an alternative option to Erling Haaland up front with City light in the striker department having allowed Julian Alvarez to join Atletico Madrid in the summer. David is a different type of striker to Haaland and is blessed with pace and a goalscorer’s instinct.
Plenty of clubs will be watching with interest to see if the striker pens a new deal in France but he would be a shrewd free transfer signing.
Leroy Sane
A familiar name to City fans given his four years at the Etihad. It would be something of a surprise if Guardiola moved for the 28-year-old but he would represent a proven elite performer available for nothing who could add thrust to a forward line that has struggled a touch this term.
The Germany international has reportedly caught the eye of Arsenal and former City coach Mikel Arteta while Bayern Munich will try and tie him down to fresh term.
Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City could be in significant financial trouble next season if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.
City’s miserable run of form has seen them drop down to seventh in the Premier League, with Guardiola no longer focusing on winning the title and instead putting all of his efforts into trying to steady the ship.
With a run of one win from their last eight games seeing City drift further and further away from the Champions League spots, Guardiola confessed his side could be in significant trouble if they fail to qualify for Europe’s premier competition.
“Financial is an issue, of course it is, but it’s not just that,” Guardiola said. “Now we’re at risk. Of course we are.
“When I said before [that this could happen], people laughed. It’s presumptuous: us winning the Premier League.
“They said: ‘Ah, qualifying for the Champions League is not a big success’. I know it [can happen], because it happens with clubs in this country. They were dominant for many years and, after many years, not qualifying for the Champions League.
“The one team that has been in the Champions League for the past 11 or 12 years [sic] has been Man City… if we don’t qualify it is because we don’t deserve it. Because we were not prepared, because we had a lot of problems and didn’t solve those problems and find a way to win games. There are a lot of contenders to be there. For every club it is so important and if we are not winning games, we will be out.”
City will get the chance to close the gap on their competition on Thursday when they host Everton in Boxing Day’s early action.
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