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It came as a surprise to many in the summer when Manchester City finished the transfer window having spent just £61.7m on new players. Everybody knows how deep City's pockets are, so this was an oddly mild expenditure for the club.
Riyad Mahrez made up the bulk of it, having signed from Leicester City for around £60m. He's since fit in well at the Etihad and is utilised out on the wing, as his natural inclination to cut in and cross or shoot puts opposition defences' on edge.
However, if Manchester City intend to surpass Liverpool in the race for the Premier League title this year, they'll need to strengthen the squad as much as possible next month. There's no doubt that Liverpool will be trying to do the same.
City have been linked with many players over the past couple of months, but it's these five players coming up in this list that are the most likely to be signed in January.
#5 Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich)
Jerome Boateng has actually been with Manchester City before; back in 2010, he was signed from Hamburger SV for around £11m, but he failed to impress. As a result, he was sold to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2011 for around £12m.
These figures are a pittance compared to his value nowadays, though. Transfermarkt believe the German defender is worth £36m, at the very least, which is a fair price considering he's now 30-years-old.
With time, Boateng was mellowed and improved significantly. He's no longer the inexperienced 22-year-old that played for City and flopped; he's a multiple title-winning anchor at the back for both Bayern Munich and Germany, and would be a crucial addition to the City squad if he moved.
Rumour probability: 4.5/10
Despite being linked heavily with Manchester City in the summer, speculation has died down considerably since then. It must be said, though, that whilst the media might not have picked up on anything just yet, talks between Boateng and City could be on the cards - especially considering his uncertain future in Munich.
#4 Isco (Real Madrid)
With Isco's relationship with Real Madrid manager Santiago Solari deteriorating so rapidly, the Spaniard might be on his way out sooner than expected. Now that the January transfer window is just mere weeks away, unless their relationship can be healed soon, Isco is bound to be looking elsewhere to play his football for the remainder of the season.
Isco would slot into the City line-up well, and Guardiola would probably utilise him in the number 10 role due to his eye for goal.
A possible setback in signing Isco, however, is his £81m price tag. And if we're to be realistic here, that evaluation is probably going to be closer to £100m. Manchester City are a very wealthy club, though, so they could still possibly afford to bring him in, despite the huge amount asked for.
Rumour probability: 7/10
Isco is probably already on the lookout for potential new clubs to sign with in January, having been marginalised by Madrid's new head coach, Santiago Solari. The Premier League is always a tempting prospect for any world class player, and with Manchester City as the current rulers of the competition, Isco might be heading for the Etihad next month.
#3 Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
It's already well known that the relationship between Sergio Busquets and Pep Guardiola remains strong to this day. The pair achieved extraordinary feats at Barcelona, with Guardiola guiding the team to frequent success, and Busquets being a key player in Pep's typical starting XI.
Busquets admitted recently that Pep Guardiola would be the only person able to tempt him away from Barcelona in January, and given what the pair accomplished before, there might very well be a reunion on the cards soon.
Busquets is arguably one of the best defensive midfielders in the world right now. He's been picked consistently for Barcelona over the years, so there's no reason why he wouldn't be a key player in Man City's line up, too.
Rumour probability: 5/10
Sergio Busquets has always been regarded as a one-club-player, so trying to pry him away from Barcelona will prove to be the most difficult part in getting his signature. But, as stated above, it's his relationship with Guardiola that could sway his decision to potentially leave the Nou Camp next month.
As far as a contract is concerned, there's no doubt that City would go all-out to ensure that they get their man; whether that means offering Busquets an astronomical wage per week or promising him a key role throughout the season, either option would be appealing.
#2 Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid)
Valued at around £81m, according to Transfermarkt, Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez could be on his way to the Etihad next month, if City can afford to splash the cash.
A more accurate price tag for the 24-year-old is probably closer to £120m, but if Guardiola really wants his man, then he'll have to fend off the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal - all of whom have shown interest in the midfielder.
However, a spanner was thrown into the works after Guardiola told the press that there was "no truth to the rumours" regarding Man City and Saul. He went on to say that he expects Saul to stay with Atletico Madrid for a lot longer. But, does this mean that the potential transfer is now redundant? Not necessarily.
It's a common trick for managers nowadays to dismiss their club's interest in a prime target, in order to keep both the press and competing teams from breathing down their neck. Such pressure can often lead to a collapse in talks. When nobody else is involved, and it's just the player and the club negotiating a contract, things always pan out a lot smoother. This might be what Guardiola is aiming to do.
Rumour probability: 5/10
There's no doubt that City could afford to buy Saul Niguez next month, but the entire deal depends on whether the 24-year-old wants to leave Spain in the first place. He has it good out there, so there isn't much of a reason to leave in the first place. But the money and prestige of a team like Manchester City could be tempting.
#1 Kai Havertz (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Kai Havertz might only be 19-years-old, but he's already showing huge potential with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. He's also recently been promoted to the German national team, having made two appearances since his debut in September.
Sport Bild (via mcfcwatch.com) have reported that Manchester City are one of many prominent European clubs that have shown an interest in the rising star.
However, there is a slight setback involved; any club who wishes to buy Havertz would need to pay in the region of £50m, at least, to get his signature. This is because he hasn't long ago penned a new deal with the club, which runs through to 2022, therefore his price tag has been hiked up exponentially.
Rumour probability: 6/10
City are known for investing heavily in youth players, so the possibility of Havertz joining is fairly high. Leroy Sane, another youngster who shone in the Bundesliga, is very similar to Havertz in his style of play; both are nimble, speedy and have an eye for goal - all traits that Guardiola admires.
