5 players Manchester City need to sign in the January transfer window 

Manchester City v Liverpool FC - Premier League
Manchester City v Liverpool FC - Premier League

Manchester City’s squad is probably the most complete in the league. However, there are some areas Pep Guardiola and his staff can improve on. The club has been very open about these deficiencies. Maybe the time is right to bring some of these players considering there are chasing a strong Liverpool team in the title race.

With the momentum of their 2-1 victory behind them who are the players that can assist the Citizens as they go for back to back Premier League titles, a feat not seen in England in almost a decade.

Guardiola said earlier in the window that the club will not be making any moves, but with Brahim Diaz departing for Madrid and all four competition still up grabs the man from Catalonia might just want to change his mind.


#1 Ben Chilwell

Leicester City v Cardiff City - Premier League

With Benjamin Mendy having his second surgery in as many seasons, Manchester City has an obvious issue at the left back position. Aymeric Laporte, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabian Delph all have deputized in the World Cup winner's absence but none are natural left backs.

Ben Chilwell at 22 years old has finally displaced Christian Fuchs and has earned a place on Gareth Southgate's England squad. Getting better with each game the England international is of the mould of the modern wing back, the type that Guardiola enjoys.

#2 Junior Firpo

Atletico Madrid v Real Betis - La Liga

The Dominican Republic-born left wingback has long been linked to Manchester City. Part of the Spanish U21 team Firpo's attacking qualities are a dangerous part of Quique Setién's exciting new Real Betis team that is making waves in both Spain and Europe.

A breakout performance in a 4-3 victory vs Spanish champions FC Barcelona has surely seen the player's price tag raise. Before it goes up, even more, the Citizens might want to make their move this winter.

#3 Rúben Neves

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Third Round

The youngest player ever to captain a team in the Champions League shocked the world when he left Porto for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Championship to be part of Jorge Mendes' project.

After dazzling in English second tier Neves has quickly shown his qualities in the English top flight. His ability to dictate the game and start his team's attacks has been instrumental in the newly promoted team picking up points against Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and knocking out Liverpool out of the League Cup.

With no replacement for Fernandinho, and the defeats that came in the games, he missed, moving for Neves now could give some security to the position as Manchester City chase Liverpool.

#4 Declan Rice

West Ham United v Birmingham City - Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Manchester City v Olympique Lyonnais - UEFA Champions League Group F

Teenage sensation Declan Rice has made himself a very important part of Manuel Pellegrini's West Ham midfield. Now available for England after making a controversial switch from Ireland, Rice is getting new admirers everytime he laces up his boots.

Originally a center back, his versatility and the City's dependence on Fernandinho could see Rice find a place in Pep Guardiola's clan.

#5 Houssem Aouar

Manchester City v Olympique Lyonnais - UEFA Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Olympique Lyonnais - UEFA Champions League Group F

Lyon gave Manchester City a real run for their money in both games of the Champions League. Part of the reason for that was the performances of midfield duo Tanguy Ndombélé and Houssem Aouar, the French youngsters were fantastic in both games and Pep has already shown that he can snap up players that beat him.

After Monaco knocked out Manchester City out of the Champions League in his first season both Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy were on their way to City the following season. Aouar, in particular, caught the eye, with the Manchester City head coach personally feeling the need to wait to greet the player in the tunnel after their last encounter.

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Edited by Abhinav Munshi
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