Man City: New signings bad news for English quartet

8Jun 2013

England - Premier League

As managerless Man City look close to tying up a second big summer transfer, Christian Crowther discusses the possible impact on the squad...

Reports are now suggesting that Manchester City are very close to signing Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Despite being managerless at present, it appears that Sheikh Mansour and City's board are wary of treading water on transfers this summer after failing to sufficiently strengthen in the last off-season, which was cited as a big factor in their underachievement in 2012/13.

By moving for Sevilla wide man Jesus Navas, the Citizens have been quick to get the ball rolling and Fernandinho's imminent arrival backs up the intent to strengthen for 2013/14.

When asked last week whether there will be any new signings at the Etihad Stadium, City's chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak replied: "Absolutely. This is going to be a very important year for us."

Clearly, that importance means catching up with their neighbours Manchester United and not only getting the title back off them - rated a 3.5 prospect at present - but certainly mounting a proper assault on the Champions League, which City are 15.0 to deliver.

So with new arrivals likely to keep appearing at the Etihad, there are bound to be casualties among the current squad as competition for places intensifies.

28-year-old Fernandinho is widely regarded as a box-to-box midfielder in the mould of his compatriot Ramires at Chelsea.

Therefore, his presence in the team is sure to have a detrimental effect on the English pairing of Jack Rodwell and Gareth Barry, assuming Yaya Toure is the first choice to play in any sort of midfield combination.

Rodwell is already on the fringes of the team and Barry's previously assured position has been pressured by the arrival of Javi Garcia. Meanwhile, the arrival of Navas could easily restrict the first-team playing time for another pair of Englishman.

Scott Sinclair's ill-judged move to the 2011/12 champions resulted in the former Swansea man playing a matter of minutes for his new club and this move could easily spell the end in a disastrous tale.

However, James Milner, like Barry, has been a fixture in the team for the last two seasons on the right-hand side of midfield, exactly the position Navas has occupied.

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Keywords: Man City, new signings, English quartet

Source: Betfair

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