5 Potential January Transfers to Fire Manchester City to the Title

Just one win in their last six matches, including three defeats, has left Manchester City's season in a tight spot. Eight points behind leaders Chelsea in the Premier League, out of the League Cup and their Champions League hopes hanging in the balance, it's not been a comfortable start for Manuel Pellegrini's men.

All of which increases the chances City may well enter into negotiations to bring players to the club in January. Hampered, of course, by Financial Fair Play restrictions, they have some money to play with after prudent summer, and if they can sell further fringe players it will increase their power in the market. The way deals are structured makes it difficult to know exactly how much room they have to manoeuvre, but it seems likely they could bring at least one new face in.

Here's a list of five potential recruits who could spark City's season to life after a questionable start.

Marco Reus

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If there's one player City should be targeting, either in January or in the summer, it's Borussia Dortmund winger Marco Reus.

The German international is considered one of Europe's top players, with his versatility his defining feature. Primarily a winger, he can operate in a range of attacking roles and possesses real technical quality and pace.

He was German Footballer of the Year in 2012 and named in the UEFA Team of the Year the following season, and has a £19.5 million release clause in his contract. According to Ralph Ellis in the Mail, City are keen to exploit his contract situation and secure his signature.

There are sure to be a host of clubs interested in Reus, but City must make sure it is they who lead negotiations with the player and demonstrate to him how important he would be to their cause.

Ricardo Rodriguez

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The main area of concern in the City squad remains left-back, where Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy, both 29, are well out of form.

Kolarov has had a patchy City career, only ever really impressing last season after three underwhelming seasons under Roberto Mancini. However, he's failed to maintain that form, and his defensive frailties have been exposed again this campaign.

Clichy impressed initially after his move from Arsenal in 2011, and he thoroughly deserved the new contract handed to him in the summer of 2013. However, he suffered a dip in form last season, which has continued this term.

It's a situation which has left City exposed down their left, one of the major reasons why Eliaquim Mangala's passage into the first team has been so difficult. They desperately need reinforcements in that area.

One possible candidate is Ricardo Rodriguez, the Wolfsburg defender who has been making a big impression. The 22-year-old Swiss star featured at this summer's World Cup and has just 18 months left on his current deal with the German club.

Alex Sandro

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Another potential left-back option is Porto's Alex Sandro, a player who looks set to net the Portuguese side a healthy profit when he moves after impressing in their first team. He moved to Porto from Santos in 2011 and has since made 62 league appearances for the Primeira Liga side.

He's just 23 and is already on the precipice of being a regular in the Brazil team, having won six caps thus far.

Koke

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Atletico Madrid's 22-year-old midfielder Koke already has 15 caps for his country, having represented Spain at every level as a youngster.

He's seen as a creative force, a player capable of high-quality passing. Many feel that he, alongside David Silva, could revolutionise City's attacking approach which has stuttered a little this season.

He has a £48 million release clause in his contract, according to Jamie Anderson writing in the Express, but with his age and ability, it could be fee worth paying to secure his services. Whether City can afford that given the FFP restrictions hanging over them is questionable and would likely be reliant on whether or not they could sell players. But there's little doubt Koke is a player likely to be interesting a club with the ambition of City.

It may be one to file until the summer when City receive the £25 million fee arranged with Valencia to turn Alvaro Negredo's loan move into a permanent one.

Isco

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It would seem foolish of Real Madrid to allow Isco to leave the club but then again they work in mysterious ways. This is the club who sold Angel Di Maria, one of the finest players in world football, to Manchester United this summer. 

Isco is a wonderful talent and a player Pellegrini knows well after they worked together at Malaga. He may prove too expensive, but City would surely do everything they could to sign him if he became available.