Premiership Preview: Manchester City

He may want out, but who can afford him? Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

An all time best league finish, Champions League qualification and an FA cup win last season signalled the beginning of a new dawn for Manchester City fans. Unlike other teams in the league, the expectation is that City will buy whoever they want, rather than who they need. However, their spending is likely to be curbed slightly by the new financial fair play rules, and City’s squad, swelled to bursting point, will need thinning down considerably.

Goalkeepers

With Joe Hart cementing his place in the first team, a new goalkeeper is not high on Mancini’s priorities. However, since Shay Given has decided that sitting on the bench looking slightly glum isn’t for him any more, Man City will need to bring in a second choice goalkeeper to take the place of Given. The Irish shot stopper, incidentally, looks likely to move to Aston Villa, who recently lost their keeper to Spurs.

Defenders

Having made Gael Clichy his first signing of the summer, Roberto Mancini will need to both strip and strengthen his back line. A centre back of real quality is needed to play alongside the excellent Vincent Kompany, as it looks unlikely that Joleon Lesscott will play any more than bit part role this season and Kolo Toure, whose drugs ban kept him out of the game for most of last season, is prone to some high profile mistakes. Despite signing Montenegrin centre back Stefan Savic, City would benefit from adding an experienced ‘no nonsense’ centre back. Someone like, but not necessarily specifically, John Terry. City will also need to move on fringe players like Wayne Bridge, Jerome Boateng and Nedum Onuoha.

Midfielders

The Citizens currently have eight players competing for the first team slots in midfield and it will come as no surprise if Shaun Wright-Phillips and Michael Johnson are moved on. Mancini’s side suffered from a lack of creativity last season and bringing in another player to ease the burden from David Silva would be advisable. Having admitted defeat in the pursuit of Alexis Sanchez, Mancini looks set to step up his interest in Samir Nasri. Others such as Sneijder have also been mooted, and the possibility of Kaka moving to Eastlands remains a distinct possibility.

Strikers

City have a plethora of players in this position, many of whom are on ludicrously high wages and are unlikely to get any playing time at all. Bellamy, Jo (signed for £21million!!) and Adebayor are all surplus to requirements and, if they are willing to take a pay cut, can find first team action elsewhere.

And then there’s Tevez, who, at the time of writing, rocked the boat by stating his desire to leave. An astonishing figure of £50m has been suggested and possible suitors include Juventus, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, with the latter seemingly the most likely destination. Without Tevez’s industry and goals, City will struggle to make a similar impact next season. Sergio Augero has been heavily linked with the club and would provide a similar style to Tevez’s. More faith will surely be put in Dzeko, who underperformed last season, and Balotelli, whose temper has so far hindered his progress.

Man City will almost certainly spend big this summer to get the players they want. You suspect however, that a manager with more attacking intent would please fans more than any big name signing.

Owain