Man City: To buy or not to buy

Two years ago, a season such as this would have been a success for Manchester City. Being in the top half of the table and still in the UEFA Cup may have even persuaded the mayor to give them the keys to the city; as long as he didn’t walk past the trophy cabinet at Old Trafford on the way. One England manager, one English manager, one corrupt Thai Prime Minister and one Arab billionaire later, the world’s richest club now sees it as an abject failure. Supporters that pleaded with us to give Darius Vassell a fair go now feel Robinho isn’t justifying his inclusion in the side. New personnel must be recruited, preferably in private jets powered by caviar. There are murmurings that a new manager could be on the horizon. A quintuple winning one would be ideal but in these tough economic times, I suppose one that’s pulled off the treble will have to do. Below is a wishlist of players City will go for given their current recruiting philosophy along with players they actually should go for if they remove the blinkers and wisen up.

1. City WILL target: Samuel Eto

There is already talk that City are lining up a £20m for the Cameroon hitman, small change when compared with what was bandied about during the Kaka circus. Eto is quick, physically strong and a clinical finisher. He is one of the best strikers in the world which is why City want him and why they won’t get him. Interest by other clubs (Liverpool are said to be in the mix) will only serve to escalate valuations into the £100m+ levels, with City more likely to experience a dent in their reputation than their chequebook. If Eto wanted to trade sun, beaches and women for wind, rain and hooligans he’d rather do it with a club competing for domestic and European honours on a consistent basis. The notion of players relishing the challenge of being part of a club’s journey from mediocre to world beating is a bit like the character played by Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society; romantic but unrealistic.

City SHOULD target: Jo

It seems like such a long time ago that Jo was the Brazilian misfit in a City shirt that couldn’t find the back of the net if he slept in it. Rejuvenated under David Moyes at Everton, he now looks every bit like an accomplished center forward. And, in what will be music to Moyes and American Idol to Hughes, Jo has stated a desire to stay on Merseyside beyond his loan to the end of the season. Forget multi-million pound deals and headline grabbing pay packets. City have an existing rough diamond on their books that could slip through their fingers. Wheels need to be put in motion to ensure the loan arrangement with Everton remains just that. How ironic that City’s most important transfer dealing of the summer could be the one that involves no fee at all.

2. City WILL target: David Villa

The Spanish dynamo is one of the hottest properties in La Liga at the moment. The fact that he outshone Premier League golden boy Fernando Torres at the European Championships is a bit like having Warren Buffet say you’re a good money manager; as ringing an endorsement as you could hope to have. Problem is Villa has been cutting his teeth at Valencia, a previously successful club wracked by turmoil at both the boardroom and managerial level. Manchester City hardly presents a model of stability for a player seeking the less volatile pastures that his ability merits. If Villa walked into a meeting with City executives and demanded an iron-clad guarantee that City would have the same manager by the end of next season and would be fighting for a Champions League position, he would be left disappointed. City would claim their latest shake-up is a sign of big things to come but after what he’s been going through at Valencia, its unlikely Villa will be willing to move to another club in the middle of a risky transition.

City SHOULD target: Michael Owen

It is perhaps more a sign of how Owen’s star has fallen than anything else that he could be touted as a value for money steal for a mid-table club. Unfortunately, injuries and an England snub have put the source of Roberto Ayala’s nightmares into this position. One thing Owen has proven in his ever diminishing appearances is he can score goals with the consistency that Gordon Ramsay hands out reprimands. With Newcastle on the brink of relegation, it is certain he will be available in the summer for a nominal fee. None of the big clubs have voiced any interest and if fit, his instinctive poaching capabilities would be ideal to satisfy City’s need for a proven goalscorer. City has the type of squad that requires simply an injection of class in a few areas and Owen represents the kind of shrewd business that a club with genuine lofty ambitions would gravitate towards.

3. City WILL target: John Terry

Where does one start in explaining why a marquee player from a top club would resist the advances from Eastlands? With that very statement perhaps. Terry is the heart and soul of Chelsea. The adulation he receives from fans sees him destined for immortality at Stamford Bridge. He’s surrounded by quality players, is at the peak of his game and was a coat of varnish away from adding a Champions League winners medal to his domestic trophy laden cabinet. Chelsea may not be the first suburb you’d think of moving to during an economic crisis but I’m sure Terry’s Russian bankrolled wage packet takes care of any mortgage related worries he may have. Before I choke on my praise, let me just spit it out: City have as much chance of snaring John Terry as Shane Warne has of being a one woman man.

City SHOULD target: Johan Djourou

Djourou is a talented defender who, through bad luck with injuries, hasn’t really been able to cement a place in the Arsenal backline. Mind you, displacing players of the calibre of Gallas and Toure is no easy feat. The fact that Djourou hasn’t been able to do so should not be seen as a reflection of limited ability. Rather it is an opportunity for a club like Manchester City to acquire a young, quality center back with experience at the top level of domestic and European football. Djourou possesses pace, the steely physical presence common to many African players and won’t command an inflated price. Yes he may not generate the headlines that City seem to crave but his performances on the park will be enough to see them in the news for all the right reasons.

4. City WILL target: Lionel Messi

What Messi lacks in looks he just about makes up for with his peerless footballing ability. In my opinion he is the best player in the world and the only reason Ronaldo can get more plaudits at times is due to the global popularity of the Premier League. Messi is also one of the few players who seems to be as effective and influential for his country as he is for his club. That City would declare their intentions to go after him is inevitable given their brash, in your face attitude towards player transfers. Unfortunately, I see the outcome of this to be the mirror image of the Kaka saga we all had to endure only a few months ago. First of all the player has no intention to leave and has reiterated time and again his passion and loyalty to Barcelona. Admittedly footballers are a fickle bunch and a kiss of the badge normally holds as much weight as a pledge by Djibril Cisse to keep the same haircut for more than two weeks. But Messi does appear to be genuinely in his comfort zone at the Nou Camp and well on his way to being a marquee player like Terry, Steven Gerrard or Kaka. There are no financial or sporting reasons for him to take a step into the unknown with City, particularly with him being in a far better position to accomplish his immediate targets with Barcelona. Blood, sweat and tears will be shed in this pursuit but there will be no celebratory cigar at the end of it for the board at Eastlands.

City SHOULD target: Diego

A gifted attacking midfielder, Diego’s talents appear to be wasted at Werder Bremen who currently languish in mid-table in the Bundesliga with little chance of Champions League football next season. He brings creativity, class and some of that Brazilian flair without any of the hang-ups or attitude that can accompany some of his peers. An innocuous season like this one will increase his desire to further his career in a more competitive league. For Diego, Manchester City would represent a fresh start at an ambitious club in the best league in the world and an opportunity to reignite his career. For City, Diego could be the engine room on the pitch or the player around whom the team is built. Acquiring playmakers of his quality on the cheap is not often possible. City need to recognise this and pounce with the predatory poaching abilities that have long been prevalent at their more illustrious rivals down the road.

5. City WILL target: Jose Mourinho

No concrete news of this but if their track record is anything to go by, who’s to say they won’t? Mourinho for his part has been busy telling anyone who cares to listen that he’s focused on blooding youth at the San Siro and being a part of the creation of the next dynasty of Inter Milan superstars. Of course, that’s when he’s not speculating about Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement and his desire to fill the gaping void it will leave at Old Trafford. The special one probably realises that day is still a couple of years off and he best sound as sincere as he can about Inter in the meantime to avoid a tumultuous relationship with the Nerrazurri. In fact, talk about putting faith in the youth system could be a strategic ploy to align himself with the ethos of Ferguson, thereby further strengthening his credentials for the United top job. The fact of the matter is that Mourinho has his heart set on a return to England and United appears to be his first option. What Jose wants, Jose usually gets. For this reason, taking up a post at Manchester City would be like asking Avram Grant to become a model; career suicide of the highest order. Joining city with a view to getting the top job at United; now that’s a bridge too far even for the special one.

City SHOULD target: Harry Redknapp

In my opinion, Mark Hughes deserves another year at the helm to truly mould City into the team he envisions. Unfortunately, given the rumblings of discontent over their consistency this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was shown the door. In that event, who better to answer the port of call than football’s journeyman, Harry Redknapp. The man loves a challenge and appears to have an uncanny ability to deal with conflicting personalities and cultures in a side in a way that extracts the best out of everyone involved. City and its ambitious owners present an evident challenge and the problems between Hughes and Robinho, the only global star currently on their books, show that people skills are likely to be the biggest performance driver, particularly if the international cocktail is going to be incremented in the summer. The only criticism would be that Redknapp has never managed a side with the genuine goal of breaking into the top 4 of the EPL and his experience at meeting those expectations can be questioned. The counter to this of course is that he’s never had the opportunity to do so before and until he does, how can judgement ever be passed?