Manchester City Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of February 3

Manchester City's January transfer window was either a huge bust or a brilliant expression of patience.

The most significant move City made in January was loaning John Guidetti to Stoke City, with apologies to the Emyr Huws loan to Birmingham City.

Two young players in need of blooding against better competition went out on loan. No first-team player left, and no help for the XI arrived.

Think of this slideshow, then, as recap-cum-foreshadowing with reference to what City did not do in January, and what they might do in the summer.

Paul Pogba Still a City Target?

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Pogba plays better without the blindfold.

Friday, Feb. 7

Juventus star Paul Pogba continues to be on Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini's wish list, per Kit Sproson of the Metro.

"The 20-year-old Serie A star has been linked with a £25 million move to City, with Manuel Pellegrini said to have made him a key transfer target," Sproson wrote recently.

City fans have to hope Pogba will be allowed to play with his eyes open despite his apparent fondness for blindfolded keepy-uppy. "Pogba, who is rumoured to be attracting renewed interest from both Manchester clubs, managed 14 keepy-uppies and two round-the-world tricks in just 12 seconds."

Little wonder he is in such demand.

Fernando Reges Move to City in Jeopardy?

EuroFootball/Getty Images

"Not so fast," seems to be the word on Fernando-to-City.

Friday, Feb. 7

David McConnell of the Mirror reports that Manchester City's presumptive move for Porto midfielder Fernando Reges may have hit a snag.

Per McConnell, "City are confident of landing the 26-year-old on a Bosman free transfer this summer...but Italian champions Juventus are also interested in the leggy star nicknamed The Octopus, and are said to be ready to hijack City’s move to sign him."

Wherever Fernando ends up, it appears his days are Porto will be done once his contract runs out this summer. "The player has refused to sign a new deal with Porto and now faces an uncertain end to the season, with president Pinto da Costa wanting him exiled."

Jonathan Tah to City?

Peter Steffen/Associated Press

Tah (right) could shore up City's flagging defensive center.

Friday, Feb. 7

Simon Jones of the Daily Mail reports that Manchester City, along with a handful of other clubs, are after young centre-back Jonathan Tah who is presently playing at Hamburg.

"Liverpool, Manchester City, United, Arsenal and Chelsea are watching with interest as a contract wrangle unfolds over highly-rated Hamburg centre back Jonathan Tah," Jones reported recently.

The dispute centers on the validity of the contract Tah signed with HSV, along with an extension that was consummated in November.

"Manchester City have been linked with a £6 million bid in recent weeks," Jones wrote. That sum would fall far short of the alleged £20.7 million release clause in Tah's deal.

Of course, if the deal is not valid, a free-for-all could ensue.

David Silva to Barcelona?

Jan Kruger/Getty Images

Say it isn't so, David.

Monday, Feb. 3

One of the best parts of being a Manchester City supporter is reading rumours of big-name transfers and thinking that, of course, Lionel Messi should be interested in coming to the Etihad in the home sky blue kit, via Gordon Tynan of The Independent.

If you are going to revel in that sort of thing, though, you have to be ready to cringe when other big clubs come in after City's best.

"Barcelona are looking to buy David Silva and turn him into their midfield playmaker, as a replacement for Barca veteran Xavi," writes Steve Bates of Mirror Football.

Xavi is 34 now, and though Silva is not an up-and-coming player at 28, he still has prime years left. 

City manager Manuel Pellegrini "views Silva as crucial to his side’s success in the coming seasons as they try to dominate the Premier League and the Champions League. But Nou Camp bosses see Silva as the perfect replacement for Xavi," Bates added.

The transfer wheel thus does not always spin toward Manchester. Sometimes, it spins away.

Reece Brown to City?

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Brown (left) is awfully young, but then City have the future to think of, too.

Monday, Feb. 3

Liam Prenderville of Mirror Football reports that "Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini could make a move for Birmingham City's teenage starlet Reece Brown as he looks to improve the club's academy structure."

The 17-year-old midfielder "has represented England at youth level and has been watched by the Citizens' Elite Development manager Patrick Vieira on a number of occasions already."

Though midfield is a significant point of strength for City, their depth in the midfield is suspect. With Samir Nasri injured, manager Manuel Pellegrini has been compelled to run David Silva, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas out repeatedly.

It would be great if Jack Rodwell, James Milner or Javi Garcia raised their level of play in the meantime. Brown would be a luxury stash for City right now.

Fernando Reges to City?

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Reges (left) could take some of the defensive onus off Fernandinho at City.

Monday, Feb. 3

Jamie Sanderson of Metro wrote recently that Porto midfielder Fernando Reges will be City property once his contract ends this summer.

"City had made signing the Brazilian enforcer their top priority on the final day of the January transfer window, but negotiations proved difficult with his club," Sanderson observed.

You do not need to be a master tactician to know how Reges will be deployed by City should he wear sky blue next season.

Fernandinho does what he does as well as any player in the Premier League, but there is the risk of overusing him as the midfield's defensive boss.

Reges could spell Fernandinho occasionally and perhaps even allow Yaya Toure a few more days off.