Make no mistake about it, while the likes of Tony Mowbray and, already, Franco Zola are feeling the full strain of the relentless Premier League rat-race, the top-flight gaffer with the most to lose is Manchester City’s Mark Hughes. As the figurehead of City’s anticipated transformation from inconsistent also-rans to continental heavyweights, Hughes has, quite inadvertently, landed every football manager’s dream job.
An open chequebook and a brief to mould a team capable of challenging for the top honours in the game, though, can bring with it an immense pressure. The signings Sparky makes in the rapidly-approaching January transfer window could define the length and future success of the 45-year-old’s tenure at the City of Manchester Stadium.
As neighbours United saunter off to Japan for a not-so-jolly mid-season-jolly, recruitment personnel at Eastlands are frantically endeavouring to cross and dot various I’s and T’s on deals for some of the world’s best. Wild speculation, which has been met with a mixture of amusement and bemusement by Hughes, has it that upwards of 50 players remain on the recruitment radar. Everyone from Kaká to Brian Deane has been linked with a move to the north-west, but only Lassana Diarra’s switch appeared anywhere close to a ‘done deal’ before Real Madrid swooped to steal the Pompey midfielder from City’s clutches.
The club are keen to get their winter-time conscription wrapped up as soon as possible; aiming to initiate a sharp resurgence in their incoherent league form. The manager promises a transfer campaign of clarity and urges a cautious approach. Whether his glory-hungry superiors in Abu Dhabi will concur remains to be seen.
Hughes said recently: “The acquisition of Robinho was a huge statement and exactly what the owners wanted at that time. But at this time, we are looking for targets to balance the team. The reality is that we have four or five positions to improve and we are working on it.”
“January is a very difficult window to negotiate for top players as they are inevitably involved with Champions League teams and striving to win titles."
It is precisely for these reasons that Hughes’ short-term targets should be realistically amenable to signing up to the cause – let’s face it Buffon, Messi, Casillas, et al, will not be arriving at this time of year, if ever. The following are five key buys which would go a long way towards shooting City out of the mid-table mire and establishing a firm base for the Welshman to build upon next summer.
1. ANATOLIY TYMOSHCHUK (Zenit St Petersburg). £12-15m.
The Ukrainian holding-midfielder would be the ideal man to knit together the Light Blues’ engine room. Now aged 29, he’s at the peak of a career which has incorporated a World Cup quarter-final appearance and the successful captaincy of two Eastern European giants: Shakhtar Donetsk and Zenit St Petersburg. With Zenit now out of the Champions League and the Russian league in hibernation, the tigerish ball-winner would surely consider offers from the West – Bayern Munich have been strongly linked.
Described as the ultimate professional by current boss Dick Advocaat, the UEFA Cup winner once offered to fight Mike Tyson – providing tackles were allowed. Along with Vincent Kompany, he has exactly the right stuff to cover the dynamic forward runs of Stephen Ireland, SWP and co.
Tymoshchuk’s contract is not up until 2011, but, of course, City comfortably have the buying power to push through a January move....Alternatives: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Gökhan Inler (Udinese), Scott Parker (West Ham Utd).
2. MATTHEW UPSON (West Ham Utd). £10-12m.
Another 29-year-old, at the peak of his powers. Mr Consistency for the Hammers and generally impressive on his intermittent appearances at international level, where Fabio Capello is clearly a fan. A fire-sale is in the offing down Upton Park way and the ex-Arsenal man recently hinted at his growing dissatisfaction: “If I'm to stay and we sell key players in January, then that would frustrate me. I signed for the club because of the vision they had and if players went now that would disappoint me.”
Frequently linked with a return to north London, Upson will be in demand among the Premier League elite in the winter window, so Hughes, Cook and co. will have to move fast to secure his signature. A calm, assured left-footer, he would add balance and reliability to a City back-line which has suffered as a result of the sharp decline in form of both Richard Dunne and Micah Richards this season....Alternatives: Joleon Lescott (Everton), Carlos Salcido (PSV), Branislav Ivanović (Chelsea).
3. TAYE TAIWO (Marseille). £8-10m.
Left-back has been a problem position for City for quite some time now. Michael Ball and Javier Garrido have not convinced at all; so a quick, powerful, hard-tackling replacement is high on the Sparky wish list. Taiwo, capped 26 times by Nigeria (and scorer of seven International goals) at the tender age of 23, fits the bill perfectly.
As per usual, Marseille have flattered to deceive – both in Europe and domestically, so the bullish 6ft full-back with a rocket shot is keen on a post-Christmas switch to a league ideally suited to his game.
“I know a lot of English clubs are following me,” he said last month. “Manchester City? Yes, that is a club who would like me. But it is up to the directors to decide.” This is one shameless come-and-get-me plea that should be swiftly heeded....Alternatives: Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Stephen Warnock (Blackburn Rovers), Adriano (Sevilla).
4. MARIO GÓMEZ (VfB Stuttgart). £14-17m.
Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz is widely-touted for the role of goal-scoring targetman, in light of Jô’s apparent failure to adapt to the rigours of English football. However, Gómez – currently recovering from a torn calf muscle – has been scoring for fun this season (with 16 goals in 22 games so far).
The German international can lead the line alone or combine well with a partner; offers a solid physical presence at the point of attack; and, crucially, is a natural goalscorer – a resource that City still sorely lack. Again, Bayern are interested, but are likely to be dissuaded by the hefty price tag around the 23-year-old’s neck. Sure, his showing at the summer’s Euros was something of a let-down, yet at such an age there is plenty of room for improvement to an already impressive all-round game.
Perennially-injured striker Valeri Bojinov is pencilled in for a February return to first-team action and could strike up an exciting alliance with a partner such as Gómez....Alternatives: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Vedad Ibišević (1899 Hoffenheim), Fernando Cavenaghi (Bordeaux), Vágner Love (CSKA Moscow).
5. FRANCK RIBÉRY (Bayern Munich). £25-30m
OK, so this one breaks all the aforesaid rules – Bayern would be reluctant sellers (though a bid in the £30m region might relax their iron grip on the inspirational Frenchman) and City are hardly in dire need of another tricky winger. But there’s next to no chance of January giving way to February without a further marquee signing adorning the Eastlands turf. A buy to once again stun the football world and enforce the idea that the City of Manchester Stadium will soon be host to an all-conquering super-club. Ribéry should be that man.
Since the 2006 World Cup, the star of the Bayern no.7 has continued to rise. The sparkling form the distinctive 25-year-old has enjoyed during his 18-month Bundesliga stay was interrupted only by ruptured ligaments suffered at Euro 2008.
Scandalously, Ribéry only placed 16th in the Ballon d’Or voting, but any club in the world would welcome his unique ability to slalom through the very toughest of tightly-packed defences. Incorporating the nomadic wide-man into a team already featuring Robinho and SWP would be a tactical conundrum Mark Hughes would gladly try to solve....Alternatives: Antonio Valencia (Wigan Athletic), Andrei Arshavin (Zenit St Petersburg), Ángel di María (Benfica), Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahly), Niko Kranjčar (Portsmouth).
Agree? Disagree? Who would be your five to transform City?
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