And, for City, there are vastly conflicting reports doing the rounds this morning.
Despite Pep Guardiola’s repeated assertion he will not be dipping into the transfer market next month, there’s more speculation today suggesting City are set to be active.
Speaking on the Transfer Window Podcast, Ian McGarry says the Club will target Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Partey in a bid to add further strength in depth to our squad.
“I’m told that City have enquired to Atletico Madrid about Thomas Partey, who, for me, is one of the most exciting and most effective holding midfielders in European football at this moment in time,” McGarry said.
“He would be my choice for Pep Guardiola in terms of bringing someone in going forward and remember that City were very much in the market for Fred, the Brazilian midfielder who signed for Manchester United in the summer, so this is not a position which Guardiola is just suddenly waking up to in terms of it being deficient.
“He’s been looking at this for a year now or more and unusually City have not really responded or reacted properly to this.
“However, I do believe that the losses to Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Chelsea, and the fact they’re trailing Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, means that they will act and act quickly in January.”
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However, Paul Hirst, writing in the Times, says City will not be doing any business in January, with Club officials satisfied with the current squad.
“Pep Guardiola will not attempt to sign anyone next month even though his Manchester City team have lost ground to Liverpool in the title race,” he writes.
“If results do not go their way this weekend, City could be ten points adrift of the leaders by the time that the two sides play each other on Thursday.
“But the club insist that they have no need to enter the transfer market, with Guardiola and the board said to be satisfied that they can retain the title with the present squad.”
Meanwhile, Craig Bellamy has backed City to retain the Premier League title, despite falling seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Bellamy, who played for both clubs during a distinguished career, says Guardiola is a serial winner and feels we are the strongest side in the Premier League.
“I don’t believe Liverpool will go unbeaten, they will lose one or two games, and I personally think Man City will win the league,” he said during the latest Sky Sports The Debate programme.
“I think Pep Guardiola would be rubbing his hands saying ‘game on - last year, we won it so comfortably, now let’s see what we’ve got’.
“They have a manager who is a serial winner so they have a lot of factors that they can look back on.
“With seven points to make up, especially over the Christmas period, you can get that back. Don’t write Man City off yet.”
And, finally, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says Southampton will have to produce a “perfect performance” to get anything out of Sunday’s game.
City travel to St Mary’s on the back of two defeats in succession and in need of points to get back on track, while Southampton remain locked in a relegation fight after the defeat to West Ham United on Thursday.
“It’s not normal for Manchester City to lose two times in a row. We expect the most difficult challenge that is possible,” he said. “If we want to keep something in St Mary’s we have to play a perfect performance.”
That’s all for today’s Media Watch. But stay with us throughout the day here on mancity.com as we bring you full coverage of Pep Guardiola’s press conference from 1.30pm.
And, don’t forget, you can get full minute-by-minute updates of Sunday’s crucial trip to Southampton via our Matchday Centre.
