'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
For a club that revels in the infamy of high-profile signings, Manchester City has had a quiet few transfer windows in the recent past. Pep Guardiola seems to have settled on a core group within the squad and is content with a few additions from time to time.
Manchester City is one of the few clubs in Europe that can field at least two separate teams of incredible quality, and its ability to remain in contention in multiple competitions is a testament to their squad depth.
While this season's narrative has been dominated by fierce modern-day rivals Liverpool, the Etihad outfit is easily the best of the rest. After a few hiccups in the initial stages of the season, resounding victories over Manchester United and Aston Villa prove that Pep Guardiola's men still have it in them to compete for silverware.
At an individual level, however, one of Guardiola's biggest challenges has been to keep his players happy and motivated. A squad of Manchester City's size and quality poses unique problems, and while the Catalan has managed to retain the cream of the crop, a few players have been consigned to the sidelines, due to either injury or lack of form.
With over two weeks still left in the transfer window, there is still a massive chance that the Manchester City we see in February could have a few additions as well as some omissions.
#3 Claudio Bravo
Does a team that boasts one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League need an excellent back-up goalkeeper? Claudio Bravo has had a tough time in Manchester, but some performances do stand out.
Pep Guardiola's idea of an ideal shot-stopper is a midfielder in goalkeeper's disguise. The Catalan's tactics and style of play necessitate a goalkeeper who is comfortable on the ball, and Ederson Moraes is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world with his feet.
Claudio Bravo is no muck on the ball, either. The Chilean benefitted immensely from his time at Barcelona and was already a world-class professional when he arrived at Manchester City. He failed to meet expectations in his first season at the club and was labeled an unsuccessful signing by pundits and critics.
While his performances have improved over time and the high-profile errors seem to have been weeded out of his game, the Chilean has never been a first-choice for the club since Ederson's arrival.
Bravo's contract runs out at the end of the season and he will, in all likelihood, leave the club as a free agent, but Manchester City may decide to cash in while they still can if a lucrative bid appears on the table.
#2 Nicolas Otamendi
Nicolas Otamendi joined Manchester City from Valencia in the summer of 2015 and was brought in to ease the pressure on the aging Vincent Kompany. Otamendi has been used extensively by both Manuel Pellegrini and Pep Guardiola during his time at the club.
However, with Fernandinho regularly playing as a center-back and Aymeric Laporte and John Stones also vying for places in Manchester City's defense, the 31-year-old Otamendi's chances of regular playing time in the long term seem considerably bleak.
The Argentine defender's contract was set to expire in 2020, but an extension was signed to keep him at the club till 2022. While Otamendi still puts in decent performances, there are question marks over whether the occasionally error-prone defender warrants a place in the first team ahead of his talented colleagues.
Guardiola's propensity for youth talent is well documented, and Eric Garcia's promotion to the team from Manchester City's youth setup may result in a sharp decline in Otamendi's playing time. The former Valencia defender does have a few years ahead of him, and a few Premier League clubs were interested in his signature in the summer of 2019.
While there have been no concrete rumors regarding Otamendi's departure from the club, a move away cannot be ruled out and may prove to benefit both parties.
#1 Leroy Sane
Leroy Sane is unquestionably deadly on the ball, and years of tormenting full-backs on either wing have proved as much.
It is, therefore, surprising that Manchester City seems to be willing to let the German winger leave the club. With Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez putting in stellar performances every week, Sane's path to the first team in Manchester is quite convoluted.
The former Schalke speedster was heavily linked to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2019, but a season-threatening injury in the FA Community Shield match against Liverpool stalled negotiations.
With Sane regaining fitness and set to return to the first team in the coming weeks, the rumor mill is expected to churn out a few more snippets of information linking him with Bayern Munich. The Bavarian giants are yet to adequately replace club legends Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, and Leroy Sane's pace, trickery, and energy make him the ideal fit.
It is in Manchester City's interest to keep Sane at the club; the German is a superstar in the making. The allure of a club like Bayern Munich and regular first-team action, however, may be too strong for the winger to ignore.
Leroy Sane in full flight is a sight to behold. Will he fly the skies of Manchester or Munich? Only time will tell.
