Soccer News

Premier League champions Manchester City are looking to strengthen their squad according to boss Roberto Mancini.

City have yet to bring in any fresh faces this summer, but Mancini insists the club is ‘talking to some players’.

New

Mancini told Sky Sports: “We did well last year. This year will be harder because when you win, the problem is to win again. For this reason I think that we need to improve our team with maybe some new players,

“I’m sure that maybe in the next two weeks we can do something about new players. We are talking to some players, but the market is not easy. It’s difficult, and for this reason we need more time.”

Champions

City were Premier League champions in the last campaign and it will be hard for Mancini to improve on his already superb squad. No squad is ever perfect and I’m sure Mancini has targets in mind, but it would be harsh on some of last seasons players should they be sold or dropped.

Targets

It’s been surprising how quiet City have been in the transfer market this summer. They were expected to spend big money again in an attempt to strengthen their squad. There is only one player that the Citizens have been heavily linked with and that’s Arsenal talisman and captain Robin Van Persie.

The Dutchman is out of contract next summer, but the Gunners are refusing to sell him ‘on-the-cheap’. Van Persie has also been linked with City’s neighbours and rivals Manchester United. Arsenal are believed to be demanding £25million for the striker.

Sales

Mancini will attempt to offload some players this summer. Although the club is fantastically wealthy the City wage bill is still ridiculously high. Tottenham looked likely to sign striker Emmanuel Adebayor, but the deal seems to have fallen through.

City were asking for just £5million for the Togo striker and Tottenham were prepared to pay the requested fee, until the striker demanded that he was paid the fee, a rather bizarre request considering he would have got a big signing-on fee from Tottenham.

Dutch international midfielder Nigel De Jong has been linked with a move to German giants Bayern Munich. However, Bayern have denied that they are interested in the 27 year-old.

Tough

It’s not hard to understand why Mancini has not yet strengthened his squad. It is really hard to identify weaknesses in the City team.

They have a world-class keeper in Joe Hart, their defence is solid. The City midfield mixes creativity with hard work and the strikers are amongst the best in the Premier League. Mancini has a tough task ahead of him strengthening his squad.

Competition

The likes of Chelsea and Manchester United have improved their squads this summer. Both have brought in exciting new players and United are looking at bringing in Brazilian wonderkid Lucas Moura, who would be a really special signing.

It will be very tough for City to defend their Premier League crown next season. With their main opponents improving their squads this summer City will have to do likewise to stay ahead of their rivals.

The champions have spent big in summers gone-by and it’s very unlikely they won’t add some big players to their squad before the summer transfer window shuts. These new faces could mean the difference between success and fail at home and abroad.

Start

Manchester City could be on the verge of something very special indeed. The addition of quality players will only help in their efforts at world domination. The next few weeks of the transfer market could prove very interesting and I’m sure Manchester City will break out their chequebook very soon.

Who should Manchester City sign this summer?