Will Manchester City Make a Last Minute Dash Into the Transfer Market?

Rumours have begun to emerge that Manchester City may have made some last minute enquiries to try and land a new signing before the transfer window slams shut at 23:00 on 31 January 2019

Throughout the month of January the Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has maintained a fixed mantra that there will no signings this month. Fans and pundits alike have suggested the team needs strengthening in two key areas to assist in the push for multiple trophies this year but so far nothing has happened.

This season the dealings in the transfer market have been the quietest since the takeover by Sheikh Mansour back in 2008. Some in the media have chosen to report the reason for the reluctance to enter the market is because of ongoing concerns with Financial Fair Play. Indeed the agent of Frenkie De Jong intimated as much in an interview with Dutch media just last week.

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However it seems more likely that two other things have been at play here. Firstly City have been amassing a significant transfer war chest, meaning they may be in a position to sign a premium player. Secondly last season this squad achieved a record points haul of 100 points and Guardiola and others within the Club have likely made a decision to give this group of players a chance.

What has happened since is that Benjamin Mendy has suffered a further knee injury meaning that for the second season running we have been forced into seeking midfielders as emergency left backs. We got away with this last season but things are different now and the position has been targetted by opponents, exposing the emergency cover.

Secondly Fernandinho has proven what an important player he is within our squad and when injured we have tried several different options to replace him, none of which have inspired great confidence. As he approaches his 34th birthday he is looking tired and the prospect of him playing in every remaining match seems distant.

It is this combination of events which have seen fans clamouring for both left back and defensive midfield cover in this window. Fans believe that we have not sufficiently strengthened since winning the Premier League title whilst our rivals have, leaving us adrift in the race. Fans have passionately called for the signing of the Lyon defensive midfielder Ndombele and Ben Chilwell from Leicester City.

The January transfer window is notoriously bad to gain a player of value. All transfers attract a premium price and accordingly City have proven reticent in recent years to enter such a sellers market. However, the defeat to Newcastle and the squad problems, coupled with the coming rigours of continuing to fight across four competitions may mean the Club are considering a U Turn and making a purchase.

dark. Next. Three Things Manchester City Learnt from Newcastle Defeat

As the last day of the transfer window unfolds it may be worth City fans keeping a close eye on the news because it could just be that the dullest transfer window of recent memory may burst into life.

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