3 Manchester City players who would have been ideal for Manchester United's first team

The day on which Manchester is split into Red and Blue is around the corner. The footballing world is buzzing to witness an intense clash as Manchester City are set to host Jose Mourinho's Manchester United in the hottest fixture of game-week 12.

The Cityzens have made a yet another flying start to the season as they find themselves at the top of the table following their 11-game undefeated streak in the league. The other Manchester side has been quite inconsistent with their performances and they would know that they must be at their best to gain something from this fixture.

The Manchester clubs are filled with top football stars around the globe which has restricted the game-time of few players despite having the quality. Here are the three players who could swap Manchester clubs and easily get into the first team :

#3 Nicolas Otamendi

Manchester City v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League

The Argentine has recently struggled with his fitness and has eventually lost his place at the back. Pep Guardiola has preferred to start John Stones and Aymeric Laporte over Otamendi as the duo continue to impress with their defending and passing abilities. Otamendi has featured in only 3 premier league games and it is doubtful whether Pep will drop either of his in-form centre-backs to give him a start.

However, it would have been a different story altogether for Otamendi if he had been at the other Manchester club. The Red Devils have struggled to find a stable defensive line and are currently relying on Lindelof and Smalling to stop the lethal City attack on Sunday.

With Smalling being highly inconsistent so far, it would have been a no-brainer to start Otamendi had he been on the other side.

#2 Riyad Mahrez

Manchester City v FC Shakhtar Donetsk - UEFA Champions League Group F

Signed from Leicester City for a whopping 60m, the initial struggles of the Algerian has started to fade away following his impressive performances of late. However, Pep's rotation policies mean that he would not be an assured starter and have to spend few matches on the bench and out of the squad.

This would have not been the case if he had been in the 'red part' of the city since United are craving for a winger like him. Riyad Mahrez would have been picked above Juan Mata in the pecking order and can evidently provide a better service up-front.

United are evidently lacking creative players during their attack and Mahrez's creativity with his magical left-foot would have been the ideal choice to overcome their winger woes.

#1 Gabriel Jesus

Manchester City v FC Shakhtar Donetsk - UEFA Champions League Group F

The biggest concern for the Red Devils has been their attacking options up-front. Both Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford have struggled to finish in front of goal which has been a major worry for Jose Mourinho. Gabriel Jesus could have been the perfect answer for Jose's problems had he been a 'red' instead of a 'blue'.

Gabriel Jesus has found it difficult to get the nod ahead of Sergio Aguero and has constantly been a bench-warmer for City recently. It is no doubt that the Brazilian possesses quality in front of goal which he proved by scoring a neat hat-trick against Shakhtar Donetsk in the recent Champions League fixture.

It is a shame that a wonderkid like Jesus is being used just as a substitute while he would easily get into the main eleven of any other team in the league.