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It is no secret that out of the two great Premier League clubs that call the beautiful city of Manchester their home, Pep Guardiola's marauding Manchester City is the better team by some distance.
The simple reason for that is the top quality players City have added to their squad, since Sheikh Mansour bought the club over a decade ago.
Though, Manchester United have some of the league's best, if not the world's best players starting for them every week, there have been some glaring lacunae in their performances this season.
Which makes us think just what could've been the case if The Red Devils had some really talented players in place of their under-performing stars? Alas, the club is stuck with the existing roaster until the summer transfer window commences on July 1, later this year.
With the upcoming high-profile showdown between the local rivals at the Old Trafford, we have arrived at the conclusion that there are three standout players in the Sky Blues' extraordinary season, that United just wish played for them.
So, without further ado, let's kick-off our list of the three City player that United wish they had.
#1 Aymeric Laporte
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had one wish that could be granted magically, we could all agree that there's nothing he would've liked to have more than a reliable, solid center-back.
Having conceded 48 goals this campaign, United are in dire need of some heroics at the back and it would not be wrong to say that only if they had someone like City's towering center-back Ayemeric Laporte in their ranks, they wouldn't have to worry about their defensive woes anymore.
The Frenchman has started in 31 games this campaign, only not being named in the playing 11, when he was sidelined due to injury in March.
The player might not be the most intimidating defender, but he's an elite passer of the ball when it comes to center-backs. He has made more passes than any other Sky Blues' player this season and only has Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Chelsea's Jorginho ahead of him in that metric.
The player who costed City £57 million last January, has an eye for a pass, both short and long and is composed in possession and cool under pressure.
Also he's proven to be a threat going forward, scoring two and assisting two goals this season.
In all, this young defender has established himself as one of the best center-backs in the English top-flight with such an ease, that, it is easy to forget that he's only been around in the league for little over an year.
#2 Fernandinho
Fernandinho, a player who can be described as the ultimate cog in the wheel on basis of his performances for Manchester City, is the kind of footballer that every club wished they had.
The tireless defensive midfielder, can be seen continuously running up and down the pitch whenever Guardiola's side are in action and is the midfield anchor around whom City’s attackers can dance around and unleash their potent strikes in the final third.
The 33-year-old Brazilian has been so important for the Sky Blues that when he was out injured back in December last year, City suffered back-to-back shock defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester City in the first two Premier League games team played in his absence.
Having joined City in 2013 from Shakhtar Donetsk, he has gradually emerged as the quintessential modern-day midfielder, who has excellent reading ability of the game and knows exactly when to push forward and pull back.
The fact that Guardiola is still struggling to find a viable player to provide backup for him and eventually replace him, proves that he is one of a kind footballer who has carved a place for himself in the league.
And when City visit their neighbors this week, it won't be surprising if he proves to be the game-changer for the reigning champions.
#3 Raheem Sterling
One thing that Manchester United have missed a lot this season is the presence of a prolific goal-scorer like Sergio Aguero this season, but when we take a closer look at City's season so far, his teammate Raheem Sterling emerges to be the better attacking player and a player whom the team would like to have, if given a choice.
The English winger has been absolutely clinical this campaign, finding the back of the net 17 times and providing the assist for his teammates on nine occasions.
Operating from the right wing, he has been able to dribble past every left-back he's faced with ease, with Liverpool's Andy Robertson the only left-back who hasn’t been dribbled past by the former Reds star this season.
He has blossomed under Guardiola, with the Catalan helping him improve his game and he has also looked like a much mature player this season going forward.
With four games still left to play, it remains to be seen whether this season is the one where he breaches the 20-goal mark for one campaign.
But, one thing's for sure, he will prove to be a handful later this week for Solskjaer's men in a charged atmosphere of the Manchester Derby at the Old Trafford.
