Scott Sinclair Loan Deal to West Brom Would Benefit Manchester City and Winger

This time last year, Manchester City were struggling to sign the players Roberto Mancini most desired. With Brian Marwood leading the recruitment drive, they missed out on their two top targets: Javi Martinez and Robin van Persie.

After winning the title only weeks earlier, City were struggling to build on their success.

What followed was a dramatic, yet ill-considered, last-minute trolley-dash to sign players on deadline day.

One of those was Swansea winger Scott Sinclair, a player who had been linked with City for a few weeks, via Hannah Duncan of Metro, but so disbelieving were most City fans that a deal would actually happen, it still seemed somewhat surprising when it was officially announced.

Sinclair, rather predictably, struggled to force his way into Mancini’s side. He made his debut away at Stoke in a 1-1 draw before starting again a week later at home to Arsenal.

He struggled to make an impact in both games—particularly the Arsenal match—where he was withdrawn at half-time. He looked completely overawed by the occasion and gave one of the most nervous performances you’re likely to see in top-flight football.

He made just one more start away to Borussia Dortmund, as well as a series of short substitute appearances, before a blood clot in his shoulder—the result of a rib operation in May—ruled him out of action for the final weeks of the season.

Now, it seems Sinclair wants to end his Manchester City misery and get back to playing football.

James Nursey of Mirror Football has linked West Brom with a season-long loan move for the winger, and although the club would probably prefer to agree a permanent transfer, it’s a move which would benefit the player and put him back in the shop window.

If he sits idle at the Etihad, his value will only decrease. By getting him some first-team football elsewhere, he can show potential suitors that he has something to offer.

His contract also stands at a reported £50,000-a-week, and with City working hard to try and reduce the wage bill, getting some or all of Sinclair’s weekly package off the books would aid City’s drive for financial self-sustainability.

Mancini went to great lengths last season to blame himself for Sinclair’s lack of impact, but the truth is that it was a transfer destined to fail. Sinclair simply doesn’t have the ability to compete for a place in City’s highly talented squad.

Hopefully, either a temporary or permanent deal can be struck so that Sinclair can have an opportunity to reignite his career.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here @TypicalCity