Manchester City: The Worst Value-for-Money Buys

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has been linked with moves to Aston Villa, Everton and Sunderland this month less than four years after his £22 million move from Goodison Park.

The 30-year-old England international had been on the bench in recent weeks before the New Year’s Day win over Stoke City.

City manager Roberto Mancini insists the club will not be doing any business unless the opportunity presents itself to bolster the squad.

Kolo Toure is set for African Nations Cup duty with the Ivory Coast which means any move for Lescott may have to wait until the summer.

Lescott could not be considered a waste of City money after playing his part in the club’s Premier League and FA Cup successes over the past two seasons.

However, the versatile defender is another player City have spent millions on but will not be holding on to.

Here we look at the worst value-for-money Manchester City buys in recent seasons. Who would you choose?

Robinho

Robinho was brought to Manchester City as a statement of intent by new owner, Sheikh Mansour, when he took over the club in 2008.

Although initially set to sign for Chelsea on the final day of the transfer window, the Brazil international settled on Real Madrid before he was persuaded to switch to City for £32.5 million instead.

After a relatively successful first season at the club in which he finished as the Premier League’s fourth-best goal-scorer, Robinho’s time at City began to unravel.

The 28-year-old played in City’s first three games of the season before an ankle injury kept him sidelined for three months.

Consequently, Robinho slipped down the pecking order for the first team and moved to Santos in his home country on loan in January 2010 before signing for AC Milan in August for £15 million.

Wayne Bridge

Wayne Bridge joined Manchester City for around £10 million from Chelsea in January 2009 after falling well behind Ashley Cole for the left-back role at Stamford Bridge.

But the England international’s time at the club is more likely to be remembered for the salacious nature of his personal dispute with Chelsea captain and former friend John Terry over Bridge’s ex-girlfriend in 2010.

Bridge slipped in the City pecking order after City manager Roberto Mancini brought in Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy to the club.

The 32-year-old has since been on loan at West Ham United and Sunderland and is currently playing for Brighton in the Championship. He remains a City player, though.

Roque Santa Cruz

Former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes shelled out £17.5 million for striker Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers in June 2009. In 18 months, the Paraguay international was back at Ewood Park on loan.

Hughes originally took the forward to Blackburn from Bayern Munich in a £3.5 million deal in July 2007 and Santa Cruz rewarded Rovers supporters with a haul of 23 goals in 57 appearances for the club.

It came as no surprise when Hughes targeted Santa Cruz for City in 2009, but when Roberto Mancini succeeded the Welshman, the striker’s time was up.

Santa Cruz is currently on loan from City to Malaga after spending last season with Real Betis.

Emmanuel Adebayor

Emmanuel Adebayor made an immediate impact after joining Manchester City for £25 million from Arsenal in the summer of 2009.

The Togo striker struck four goals in his opening four Premier League matches for the club, although it is his celebration after scoring against former club Arsenal in that run for which he will be remembered.

Adebayor finished his first season at City with 14 goals from 31 appearances.

The 28-year-old then became the first City player to score a hat-trick in European competition when his treble helped the team beat Lech Poznan 3-1 in a Europa League group match.

But Adebayor’s City career was on the wane when Roberto Mancini brought in Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli and the Togolese joined Real Madrid on loan in January 2011.

Adebayor spent last season on loan at Tottenham before signing a permanent deal with the White Hart Lane club in the summer.

Jack Rodwell

Could Jack Rodwell be another player not to live up to the big price tag with Manchester City? The jury remains out on the midfielder.

The 21-year-old England international signed for City from Everton in August 2012 for around £12 million with Roberto Mancini viewing the new arrival as a potential star.

But Rodwell’s six appearances for City so far have been blighted by errors, notably against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, and he has not played since October 6 due to hamstring injury.

Mancini is hoping Rodwell will be fit again soon with Yaya Toure heading to the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast this month.

But the defensive midfielder has a lot to prove before he can be cast in the same light as Toure. The New Year could be a make or break one for Rodwell.

Rodwell's ability is undoubted but his confidence needs a boost after a shaky start to his City career.