Manchester City Transfers: 6 Viable January Targets for Roberto Mancini

As January looms on the horizon—a fiscal bubble of gossip and speculation ready to burst with excitement as the transfer window opens with the new year—all eyes will be on the Barclays Premier League big spenders as they look to strengthen for domestic and European success.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will look to the continent's brightest young talents to compliment a squad which already sits five points clear of local rivals Manchester United at the summit of the league table.

Countless players are linked with a transfer to the blues each season, here are six potential moves which may just transpire:

Alessio Cerci

Roberto Mancini has long been an admirer of winger Alessio Cerci, with the Roma youth product first impressing the Internazionale boss during a loan spell at Pisa in which he scored 10 goals in 26 games. Now Manchester City manager, Mancini confirmed he is still interested in the wide man, “We tried again [to sign him] in the summer because I thought he might make an important contribution and mix well with the players here.”

Cerci, who last week scored both goals during Fiorentina's 2-1 Coppa Italia fourth round victory versus Empoli, has acknowledged Mancini's interest, “It was a real pleasure to be linked with a club who are as important as Manchester City, but Fiorentina are my present and future.”

Following the summer exits of Shaun Wright Phillips to Queens Park Rangers and Vladimir Weiss to Espanyol (on permanent and loan deals respectively), England winger Adam Johnson is currently the only natural wide player in the Manchester City squad.  Should Mancini decide extra depth in the wide areas would be beneficial, he is likely to return to the talented Italian.

Javi Martinez

La Liga expert Guillem Balague recently reported that City had enquired over the availability of Athletic Bilbao anchor man Javi Martinez.

Martinez's metronomic passing during Spain's EURO Under-21 Championship this summer confirmed his blossoming reputation as one of the top central midfield talents in Europe.

As Yaya Toure departs for the African Cup of Nations, Roberto Mancini may decide Martinez is the man to fill the Ivorian's rather large boots.

With Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United all reportedly chasing the Basque midfielder, City face fierce competition, but with the financial muscle available, plus the lure of international team-mate David Silva, the blues may just get their man.

Ganso

Paulo Henrique Ganso has been on Manchester City's radar for a number of years, to the extent that the club insisted on a first-option clause for the promising youngster as part of the loan deal which saw Robinho move to Santos, although that option has since expired. Ganso's increasing reputation plus the healthy financial stability currently within the Brazilian football framework means the talented playmaker would command a hefty fee. 

The player himself spoke recently regarding his future, with a January move a distinct possibility as he sets his gaze across Europe: “We will have to wait for the Club World Cup to finish to sit down and talk again about this.”

The Napoli Trio

Manchester City coach Attilio Lombardo revealed during the summer that the potent Neapolitan attacking trident of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi had caught the gaze of the Barclays Premier League club, with all three still believed to be on the radar.

"

“I hope there can be some negotiations between Napoli and Manchester City, especially as I’d see one of their three forwards would really suit City.

“The trio of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi would bring success to any club.

“Napoli have very strong players, but I doubt they’d release Hamsik and Cavani at the same time. Manchester City are tracking many players because this club wants to do well, to win and to become the most important side in Europe.

"Napoli have good players, so that is why we are looking at them.”

"

City officials met with Edinson Cavani's agent Claudio Angelluci whilst the club was in Italy, but Mancini appears reluctant to sign another superstar striker with Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero currently vying for positions.

Understandably reluctant to recreate a situation which has caused Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz to leave on loan, and Carlos Tevez to go AWOL in South America, the City manager protested the need for an additional striker. “Another striker? No, I have three strikers and that is enough," he said. "I also have three or four players who can also play as a striker.”

The rumours persist, however, with the recent meeting with Angelluci further fanning the transfer gossip flames.

Hamsik and Lavezzi could present a different proposition for the City manager, with Lavezzi's versatility to play anywhere along the frontline, or supporting the lead striker a major factor in a potential transfer.

Yanina Screpante, the Argentine girlfriend on Lavezzi was robbed at gunpoint last Saturday evening, taking to Twitter to voice her anger at the city of Naples.

“When they say that in Argentina there is insecurity ... the city of Naples is s***

“I have had my watch stolen at gunpoint. If this happens to me again I’ll take Pocho [Lavezzi] away from here.”

Napoli president, Aurelio de Laurentiis, was less than sympathetic towards Screpante's ordeal. In an interview which may potentially alienate Lavezzi from the film producer-turned Napoli owner, de Laurentiis gave his opinion on the mugging,

"

“I would like to tell Yanina that during a recession she shouldn’t go round with a Rolex on her wrist.

“Her scared reaction is justified. Maybe she’s not yet ‘Neapolitan’ enough to deal with this sort of thing.

“Perhaps the girl thought she was untouchable, being Lavezzi’s girlfriend, but that is not the case.”

"

This was not an isolated incident, however. Marek Hamsik's pregnant wife had her car stolen at gunpoint just hours before Napoli's Champions League Group A clash with Manchester City.

Napoli would loathe to sell their young captain, or indeed any of Cavani, Hamsik and Lavezzi, but with personal issues affecting the players in the city of Naples, coupled with the alluring potential of Manchester, it would not be surprising to see one of the three swap to a slightly different shade of blue in the near future.