Summer Transfer window 2013: Manchester City

This season, both Johnson and de Jong’s departures have been atoned for, as Navas and Fernandinho have already been brought in. Fernandinho was supposedly the club’s principal target, and they paid £30m for the 28-year-old. Given that he is no household name, that amount may seem over-the-top. However, players like him are hard to come by, and he is just what City could use. Standing at 5’8”, Fernandinho is no Toure-esque presence. But be swayed not. Roy Keane was only 5’10”. Electric pace, explosive power, a great passing range, and tank-like strength characterize the Brazilian as the complete midfielder. Gareth Barry, for all his understated qualities, will most certainly be sacrificed, given his prime has passed, as evidenced against Southampton at St. Mary’s in the League. For more on Fernandinho, read this excellent piece by one of our very own at Sportskeeda.

Jesus Navas is a far more popular name than Fernandinho though, given his exploits with the Spanish national team in World Cup 2010, and Euro 2012. Navas has now well and truly overcome the over-documented homesickness he suffered from previously. If unfamiliar with his style of play, imagine him as a bigger and better Aaron Lennon. As fast, but more direct, with a better end product; be it a shot on goal, or a cross into the six-yard box. In fact, Navas created more chances for Sevilla from open play (71) last season than any other player in La Liga. Jesus Navas has been a regular on the right for his club, and has been used as an impact substitute by Vicente Del Bosque in the national side; his speed and directness taking advantage of lethargy in the opposition. Expect Navas to cement a place in the City starting line-up as well.

Manuel Pellegrini prefers playing a 4-3-3, and expect the manager to make a few more transfers by the end of the window. Isco has been a target since last season, and the player himself is keen to follow his mentor Pellegrini to the Etihad. Expect progress on his arrival after the end of the Euro U21 Championship. Isco can be expected on the left of the front three, Navas, as mentioned previously, on the right, and Sergio Aguero through the centre. This trio will be supplied by the devastating midfield combination of Yaya Toure, Fernandinho and David Silva, with the former two switching as the holding midfielder. A new central defender is also on the cards, after the departure of Kolo Toure and the impending exit of Joleon Lescott, and Real Madrid wantaway Pepe has been mooted as an option, but that one is still far from done. Pellegrini’s arrival has also supposedly cooled City’s interest in Edinson Cavani, though they still remain in negotiations, in the event that Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko both leave the club.

Manchester City have been reworked from the ground up under Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and the 2013/14 season will be the next defining chapter in the progress of the club. The owners have always professed stability as the way forward, and the work done in the current window will either make or break the club in the coming seasons. Given the way they’ve started, expect some show of Middle Eastern monetary muscle to outwit the lesser opposition.