Manchester City Transfer Speculation: 6 Players to Offload in January

Manchester City have a load of stars on their roster. However, not all of them have the job security that they would hope to have at the club.

There are a few remaining players still on the books from the long past reign of Mark Hughes. These need to be sold before they suck even more money out of the club.

Additionally there is a bad egg, and some overstock that needs to be sold while the club's value is at its peak.

Wayne Bridge

Although Wayne Bridge is out on loan to Brighton Hove & Albion, he is one of the first players that needs to be let go.

His quality has greatly declined, and the longer City go without selling him the lower a return they will get, if any.

It is time to make a fire sale special for the former Chelsea man and let him go for whatever they can get for him.

Roque Santa Cruz

Another older player that is beyond his time at the Etihad Stadium is Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz.

The 31-year-old is off on loan to Malaga where he has made four appearances scoring one goal.

Finding a way to structure his deal into a permanent move to Spain would eliminate the need to find a buyer and at least give the club a little income for the player that has been nothing but a gaping hole to throw cash into.

Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli continues to look like a loose cannon ready to go off. Despite what had appeared to be a summer of much growth with the Italian National Team, there seems to be no end to the thought that he could change.

However, the reality of the matter is that Balotelli seems no more mature this season than last. Manchester City should sell him while his value is potentially high.

Edin Dzeko is more than capable as a third striker and the up-and-coming John Guidetti is more than a solid replacement for Balotelli as a hungry young striker.

Costel Pantilimon

The 25-year-old keeper is unlikely to ever supplant Joe Hart with the club, and at his age he is a prime player that City could sell with ease.

With Richard Wright, the club have a capable backup that is not a young talent wasting away on the bench.

A Fullback

Manchester City have a plethora of fullbacks in the form of Gael Clichy, Aleksandar Kolarov, Pablo Zabaleta, Douglas Maicon and Micah Richards.

Since Maicon is a new arrival he is not likely to be heading out anytime soon. Richards is young and promising at the age of 24 and is already an England international with great anticipation attached.

That leaves one of the three late mid-20s players in Clichy, Kolarov and Zabaleta as likely on the sale list.

Each has traits that cancel the other out, and while keeping all three would be great, it is only a matter of time until the lack of playing time forces one to push for the exit door.

Kolo Toure

Veteran defender Kolo Toure still has a few years left in the tank, unfortunately for him they more than likely need to be played at another club.

The 31-year-old has his days most likely numbered after the addition of Matija Nastasić this summer.

Dutch youngster Karim Rekik would be a capable deputy in the place of Toure and would allow the young Holland player more additional opportunity to start growing his presence in the club's senior squad.