Man City's dream XI to blast back into title race as FOUR January transfers confirmed

Manchester City remain well off the pace in the Premier League, but a productive January could set them back on course.

A midweek draw with Brentford left Pep Guardiola's team down in sixth after 21 matches. They're three points adrift of fourth-place Newcastle, but still a full 12 behind league leaders Liverpool after playing a game more than Arne Slot's men.

City have already set out their stall before making a first January signing. Top scorer Erling Haaland has put pen to paper on a new nine-and-a-half year deal, with the Norwegian now by far the highest earner in the Premier League.

There are still injury issues to address, though, with Rodri likely out for the season and the likes of John Stones and Ruben Dias currently out of action. However, four potential signings could help City climb the table.

The main targets for City come at the back. Abdukodir Khusanov looks set to join from Lens, with fellow centre-back Vitor Reis close to a £29.5million move from Palmeiras.

Further forward, Guardiola's side are expected to return with an improved bid for Omar Marmoush, though they aren't the only Premier League side keen on the Eintracht Frankfurt star. A potential fourth deal could see full-back Andrea Cambiaso join from Juventus, though this is understood to be the furthest from completion out of the four deals.

So, how might City line up if they get their deals completed? Mirror Football has taken a closer look at the side which could help rescue their season.

Goalkeeper and defence

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City might end up with two new centre-backs in January, but that doesn't necessarily mean both will immediately start as a brand new pairing. Uzbek international Khusanov appears the more likely starter of the two, with 19-year-old Reis yet to play any European club football.

If a deal for Cambiaso can be completed, that would allow City to push Josko Gvardiol back inside. The Croatian has provided an unlikely goal threat from out wide, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that City broke the bank for him off the back of his displays in the middle for RB Leipzig.

With Kyle Walker exploring an exit, the addition of reinforcements at centre-back would allow Manuel Akanji to move back out to the right and alternate with Rico Lewis. In goal, meanwhile, Ederson may well eventually reclaim his starting spot from Stefan Ortega.

Midfield

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Rodri was initially thought to be out for the season after ACL surgery, but the Spaniard has indicated he could yet return to play a part this term. For the time being, though, Guardiola is making the best of what he has without the Euro 2024 winner.

"I know myself, I am a person who recovers well, a person with a positive mentality," Rodri told AS in January. "They have said that the [mental issue] was very important in the recovery. As I said, everything is going very well. Of course I want to play again this season."

For the meantime, though, the return of Mateo Kovacic has been important in helping deal with that absence. There will be games where one of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva can partner the Croatia star in a double pivot, but on other occasions City may opt for a more conservative three-man approach.

Attack

January transfer target Marmoush has been the focal point of Frankfurt's attack, but a move to the Etihad Stadium could also be a move to a wide role. This would be nothing new, with Julian Alvarez also often operating out wide during his time with the club before leaving for Atletico Madrid over the summer.

Savinho has found a bit of form, having endured a stop-start first few months following his arrival from Troyes, but the Brazilian and the Egyptian on opposite flanks could be the answer. That would mean a central role for Phil Foden behind Haaland, who has a healthy 16-goal tally despite some recent struggles.

Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish will provide options out wide, but they're not the only ones. Forgotten man Oscar Bobb could also return to play a part during the run-in, having been sidelined by the broken leg he suffered during pre-season.

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