10 players who could join Man City in January

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 10 Jan 2023 19:31 GMT
• 6 min read

Manchester City have ground to make up on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and could go shopping to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window…

The English champions, perhaps surprisingly, made a profit in the summer transfer window, offloading previous star performers like Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko for big money whilst spending just €60 million on Erlgin Haaland.

Former Dortmund man Haaland has already made a mockery of that fee, racing to 18 Premier League goals from just 13 games in the first half of the season. But City find themselves trailing Jesus and Zinchenko - now of Arsenal - with the Gunners five points clear.

READ: Guardiola planned to leave Man City for Barca

Who might they sign in January? Football Transfers takes a closer look.

Jude Bellingham

Bellingham has emerged as one of the most in-demand players in world football, and has already led Dortmund out in the champions League at the tender age of 19. Competition for the midfielder's signature, from Real Madrid in particular, is fierce, but City could have an ace in the hole with Haaland in close touch with Bellingham from their BVB days.

Rafa Leao

Leao is yet to put pen to paper on new terms with AC Milan, with sporting director Paolo Maldini admitting recently that the Rossoneri couldn't compete with the likes of Chelsea and Man City financially. Leao would set City back a pretty penny, but with 16 goal-involvements in 20 games this season, the Portuguese has been significantly more prolific than Jack Grealish from exactly the same position.

READ: Man City star Bernardo Silva's €50m offer

Cristiano Ronaldo

Perhaps now one of the less likely arrivals at the Etihad on this list, Cristiano Ronaldo is a free agent after leaving Manchester United under a cloud following his explosive interview with Piers Morgan. Spurned City to re-join United at the last minute before the start of last season and now looks set for Saudi Arabia, but Pep Guardiola could welcome a back-up for the sometimes injury-prone Haaland.

Toni Kroos

Ronaldo's former Real Madrid teammate and one City are known to be tracking, Toni Kroos is out of contract at the Bernabeu at the end of the season and could be acquired for a knockdown price in January. The German would be happy to reunite with Pep Guardiola, too. "Guardiola fought until the last day for me to stay at Bayern," he reflected on his 2014 move to Madrid recently. "If I have to choose a coach who is perfect for my game, it's Guardiola."

Enzo Fernandez

Perhaps a player more in keeping with City's modus operandi of signing those with the best of their careers still ahead of them, Fernandez was previously scouted as a cheaper alternative for Bellingham. Interest in the Benfica man has shot up following his performances with Argentina at the World Cup, though, and City might have to stump up the full €120m of his release clause.

Frenkie de Jong

Frenkie de Jong was linked with City's cross-town rivals United for much of last summer but dug his heels in to stay at Barcelona. With Barca scouting Andrey Santos and Gavi and Pedri recently handed contracts with €1 billion release clauses, it is clear the direction they want to take their midfield in, though. Guardiola likes De Jong, and will likely lose midfield general Ilkay Gundogan on a free at the end of the campaign. The two swapping clubs remains a possibility.

Milan Skriniar

Manuel Akanji has performed admirably since following Haaland to City from Dortmund, and the champions have ample cover at centre-back in Ruben Dias, John Stones, Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte, but the chance to pick up Inter talisman Milan Skriniar on a free next summer - or on the cheap in January - could prove too good to turn down.

Kieran Tierney

With Zinchenko sold to Arsenal, City have looked a bit light at left-back. Joao Cancelo is a fantastic player in the position, but he is right-footed and normally lines up on the right for Portugal. Zinchenko's presence has forced Kieran Tierney onto the bench at the Emirates, and Mikel Arteta has made it clear that won't change when Zinchenko's fit. Tierney could get more minutes up the road, for a richer club more in the habit of winning trophies than his current employers.

Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka, in contrast, is an unmistakable first choice at Arsenal, but he hasn't signed a new deal in North London since July 2020. He likely has one more extension in him before leaving for big money, but City could be tempted sooner than that. With Sterling and Jesus leaving they have space in the wide attacking areas and a budget burning a hole in their pocket.

Lionel Messi

Last, but by no means least, is Lionel Messi. The Argentine legend is out of contract with Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the season and so far refusing to extend. A move to David Beckham's Inter Miami, if not a return to Barcelona, has been mooted, but Pep and Messi was an irresistible partnership for four glittering years at Camp Nou, and them being reunited in Manchester, no matter how briefly, would light up the league.