Manchester City Transfers: 10 Targets for Roberto Mancini to Finalise His Squad

You'd think Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini would be mulling over who to transfer out of Etihad Stadium, instead he wants more players.

According to guardian.co.uk, Mancini wants two more players—a midfielder and a winger.

Squad players? Or players that would start at any other club in the world? We don't know, so there will be a mixture of squad and clear first team players in this list.  

Let's go look at 10 transfer targets to which Mancini is contemplating about signing right now.   

1. Juan Manuel Mata

• Club: Valencia
• Position: Left/right winger
• Age: 23
• Nationality: Spanish

Not that Manchester City have issues paying premiums, but they should pay attention to the fact no club has offered £20 million for Juan Manuel Mata let alone £30 million.

I rate Mata quite highly, and he was very impressive at the Mestalla last season, and I'm flummoxed as to why Arsenal could potentially sign him for just £17 million.

It would be a steal just like when Real Madrid signed Mesut Özil for £13.1 million.  

Mata would be an excellent signing for Manchester City, because he is class, though there is one problem with the transfer.

Mata may not want to sign for Manchester City, given he isn't guaranteed a starting position, and he may languish on the benches if he does not perform straight away. 

Does he want to be on the outer looking in at Eastlands like he was at Real Madrid?    

2. Michel Bastos

• Club: Lyon
• Position: Left/right winger
• Age: 27
• Nationality: Brazilian 

One of my favourites players to watch, Michel Bastos has such an impact for Lyon, he's quick, he's skillful and if given space, he'll score spectacular goals. 

I remember watching him play as a left sided forward against Schalke in the UEFA Champions League last year, and he ran rings around the Schalke players.

At 27, he should be looking to move to a bigger club, and Juventus have come calling, but aren't willing to meet the €15 million transfer fee. 

€15 million is £13.1 million, and Manchester City should go for Bastos. 

Potentially manager Roberto Mancini could call on the services of Mario Balotelli, Bastos and Shaun Wright-Phillips off the bench—talk about attack minded substittions.  

3. Riccardo Montolivo

• Club: Fiorentina
• Position: Centre midfielder   
• Age: 26
• Nationality: Italian

Aside from an excellent game against Inter Milan early on in the season, Riccardo Montolivo didn't play to the level he is capable of playing at. 

In hindsight, clearly something behind the scenes was troubling him; perhaps it was Fiorentina undervaluing his contributions by giving him a less than satisfactory contract.  

He's demanded to leave, and A.C. Milan are in the box seat to sign him, but maybe manager Roberto Mancini can persuade his compatriot to call Etihad Stadium home.

Montolivo would add further depth to an already talent filled Manchester City midfield.   

4. Tomás Rincòn

• Club: Hamburg
• Position: Defensive midfielder  
• Age: 23
• Nationality: Venezuelan 

Tomás Rincòn had an exceptional Copa América where there was no doubt that he played better than Lucas and Javier Mascherano.

Rincòn  would be a great reserve to Nigel de Jong, and say de Jong was out, rather than move Yaya Touré into defensive midfield, you just place Rincòn  there. 

For Hamburg last season, Rincòn also played as a right sided midfielder and right back for periods of the season, so he also brings versatility.    

5. Diego

• Club: Wolfsburg
• Position: Attacking midfielder   
• Age: 26
• Nationality: Brazilian 

Well what a horrible season Diego had at Wolfsburg. 

He wants to leave, Wolfsburg wants him to leave, so it's really a sad state of affairs for someone as gifted as Diego to have essentially wasted the past three seasons.

Sure going to Manchester City might be a waste to his career, but he'd be an excellent addition.

He failed at Juventus and Wolfsburg because he didn't handle the pressure of being the expensive star player who was supposed to carry the team to success well.

At Manchester City, he can come off the bench and make appearances here and there.

Then again, it probably would be more beneficial if he'd went to a team where he'd have a better chance of playing first team football, like Atlético Madrid. 

6. Marcelo Estigarribia

• Club: Le Mans
• Position: Left winger   
• Age: 23
• Nationality: Paraguayan

I'm surprised someone of Marcelo Estigarribia's quality is not getting gametime at Le Mans let alone being at the club.

Perhaps that is a red flag, why isn't he getting gametime at a relatively modest club like Le Mans?

Though having watched him during Paraguay's surprise run at the Copa América, I'm convinced he can have a successful career in Europe.

With a generally workmen like and unimaginative Parguay side, Estigarribia was a player who provided incisive runs, and loved to attack.   

7. Alessio Cerci

• Club: Fiorentina
• Position: Right/left winger   
• Age: 24
• Nationality: Italian 

It's a bit hard to judge Alessio Cerci, as he's hot and cold, and he's in and out of the Fiorentina line-up.

Though he has stated he isn't sure if he's going to be a Fiorentina player this season, given he's Italian, he has a bit of quality, surely manager Roberto Mancini knows this. 

I recall Cerci going missing against Juventus, and then a month later, having a super game against Udinese. 

If he does become a Manchester City player, I can only see him making an impact with cameo appearances. 

8. Mahamadou Diarra

• Club: N/A
• Position: Defensive midfielder   
• Age: 30
• Nationality: Malian 

Deemed surplus to requirements at Real Madrid, and not willing to play with Monaco in Ligue 2, Mahamadou Diarra is currently training with Lyon as a free agent. 

Diarra would be a good back-up to Nigel de Jong, and adds further depth to a Manchester City midfield that doesn't need anymore depth.

Though Roberto Mancini wants a midfielder, so why not for Diarra?  

9. Anthony Vanden Borre

• Club: Racing Genk
• Position: Utility player  
• Age: 23
• Nationality: Belgian 

I remember watching  Anthony Vanden Borre play for Anderlecht years ago, and thinking wow this kid has some talent.

Yet he hasn't really developed as much, and aside from demonstrating he can play in a lot of positions quite competantly, one gets the feeling that Vanden Borre may not fully reach his potential.

Didn't do much when he was at Serie A, played well enough at right back for Portsmouth, and hasn't done much at Racing Genk. 

So why should Manchester City buy him? 

He has quality, he's still young,  he's very athletic, and he would be a good squad player. 

10. Stephen Appiah

• Club: N/A 
• Position: Defensive midfielder   
• Age: 30
• Nationality: Ghanaian 

Perhaps 15 years of box-to-box running, challenging all over the place, and leading his team has taken a toll on Stephen Appiah.

At just 30, retirement would be a legitimate option, though someone with Appiah's heart and determination will not give up. 

He'll be picked up by someone whether it's a Middle Eastern team or a unfancied club in one of the big leagues.

If Manchester City offer him a pay as you play contract, I'm sure he'll take it, even knowing he'll just be a squad player. 

Appiah gives you leadership, professionalism, experience and he'll do a job.  

Conclusion

Of the 10 transfer targets, I'd choose Michel Bastos and Mahamadou Diarra. 

I believe manager Roberto Mancini wants a winger he can use off the bench, and when said midfielder, I presume it has to be a squad player given the absurd amount depth of talent Manchester City have in the engine room.

Of the 10 transfer targets, which two players would you choose?

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