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At the start of the current campaign, Manchester City were considered favourites to win the League title with Liverpool being the closest challengers to their title defence. The season did begin the way City would have liked as they brushed teams aside maintaining the top spot for quite a long time.
However, during the busy Christmas schedule, wheels came off a bit and at the end of the calendar year, the defending champions found themselves seven points shy off Liverpool at the top.
It highlighted one specific weakness of this Manchester City team which they looked to cover up in the January market. Pep Guardiola's over-reliance on Fernandinho was evident in the victory against Liverpool where the Brazilian put up a stellar performance to reduce the deficit to just four points.
The Cityzens wanted someone who could be an ideal backup to Fernandinho as the Brazillian could play week in and week out because of his age.
On the other hand, rumours circulated about City's inefficiency in developing their young academic talents with Jadon Sancho already leaving early for Dortmund and couple of other youngsters looked to find a breakthrough elsewhere.
Man City ware involved in the market till the deadline day with players leaving and few others linked with a move in the summer.
Hence, without delaying further, let's look back how the January transfer market unfolded for Machester City and all the deals completed in the process.
Transfers/Loans IN
#2 Ante Palaversa(Signed from Hajduk Split)
The 18-year-old Croatian signed for City on the deadline day, but he would be loaned back to his former club till 2020 where he will continue his development.
After the signing, the youngster said:
I'm Hajduk's saying, playing at the Poljud was always my dream, and after all, I'm happy to see the work of the Hajduk Academy recognized one of the biggest clubs in the world.
He is also the captain of Croatia under-19 team and made his debut for Hajduk Split last summer in the UEFA Europa League qualifier.
#1 Ko Itakura (Signed from Kawasaki Frontale)
Ko Itakura was City's first signing of the January transfer window. The Japanese under-21 International has been loaned to Dutch club Groningen until the end of next season.
The midfielder would be eligible for a work permit to compete in City after his spell in Holland. Despite being a midfielder, he can play as a centre back as well.
Transfers/Loans OUT
#6 Brahim Diaz (Sold to Real Madrid)
Real Madrid signed City youngster, Brahim Diaz for a transfer fee that could rise to £22 million which includes an anti-United clause as well. In case Real decides to sell the player to Manchester United in the future, City would get 40 per cent of the transfer fee.
Diaz, signed on a six and half year deal, described Madrid as his dream club and the only choice he had after leaving City.
#5 Luke Bolton (On loan to Wycombe Wanderers)
The 19-year-old City starlet has signed for Wycombe Wanderers on loan until the end of the season.
Wycombe manager, Gareth Ainsworth looked jubilant after the signing. He told the media:
It's a massive coup for us to be able to bring a player of Luke's caliber to the club.
He's lightning quick, very direct and the type of player that will entertain and get the supporters on their feet
The England U-20 International was part of City's Champions League squad and was on the bench for their Carabao Cup second leg tie against Burton Albion.
#4 Ed Francis (Sold to Wolves)
Ed Francis signed for Wolves on a two and half year deal with an option to extend it further for 12 months.
The 19-year-old academy product spent the first half of the season on loan at Almere City. In an interview, Wolves Academy’s head of player development, Scott Sellars said:
"I spoke to some staff there (at Man City) and Ed was always talented from a young age. He can play center-back, left-back or center midfield so is very versatile. When that quality of player becomes available we have to discuss it to see if it’s a good bit of business for ourselves. We felt moving forward he could really add to the group and at 19 he has a lot of potentials."
#2 Rabbi Matondo (Sold to Schalke)
Matondo was in the news for quite sometime after the youngster rejected a new contract offer from Manchester City and looked to move elsewhere to get a breakthrough in his career.
A quite a few number of clubs including Bayern Munich were after the Welsh International. However, after City rejected the first official bid from Schalke, the German side eventually wrapped up the signing for an £11.30 million fee.
#1 Ryan Corrigan (Sold to Stoke City)
Ryan Corrigan signed for Championship side Stoke City on the deadline day for the club's academy.
The 18-year-old Ireland International joined Man City in 2015 where he made a total of 30 appearances in the U18 Premier League.
Overall assessment of window (good/bad/average)
Pep Guardiola made it clear at the start of the January transfer market that he doesn't expect any significant signings and it would be a quiet market for the defending Premier League Champions.
However, that didn't stop bookmakers linking City to a whole host of players, most notably Dutch International, Frenkie de Jong.
The Cityzens wanted a central midfielder as a back up for Fernandinho with de Jong identified as the ideal player for that role. It was a three-way battle between Barcelona, PSG, and City for the Ajax star who eventually signed for the Spanish giants.
Frenkie impressed during his time with the Dutch side, and Pep Guardiola would consider this a significant transfer swoop missed.
Overall it was a pretty average January window on the part of Manchester City who only signed Riyad Mahrez in the summer transfer market as well. Moreover, few promising youngsters leaving the club would be a cause of concern for the club's youth academy.
