Manchester City "are much more aware of the need to get it right" when signing a new midfielder after their previous "failings in the transfer market" in that department, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole.
A combination of injuries and a notable drop-off in form from several first-team players has contributed to Man City's decline this season, leaving them 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, out of the EFL Cup and in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds.
In a bid to revive their campaign, add much-needed depth in key positions and address the age profile of a squad that has become the fourth oldest in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola's side have decided to begin their squad rebuild this month, with three fresh faces having already arrived at the Etihad Stadium.
Indeed, defensive duo Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis were City's first two additions before they unveiled the big-money signing of attacker Omar Marmoush, taking their total spending in the January transfer window to around £123m.
Man City are now believed to be on the lookout for a new midfielder who can fill the void left by Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who is set to miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
"City are very conscious they can't get it wrong again"
McInerney has acknowledged that both Kalvin Phillips - now on loan at Ipswich Town - and Matheus Nunes have failed to reach the heights expected in Man City's midfield and the club can ill-afford to "get it wrong again" when recruiting at least one new player for their engine room.
One name who has been linked with a switch to the Etihad Stadium is Juventus' Douglas Luiz, with Man City believed to be contemplating a straight loan move, although the Serie A giants would prefer to sell the Brazilian who they only signed last summer from Aston Villa for €50m.
Speaking to Sports Mole, McInerney said: "I think the reasons that Man City would go for someone like Douglas Luiz on loan is because it's very obvious that, given the (previous) failings in the transfer market in midfield - we signed Kalvin Phillips that just didn't work, Matheus Nunes was signed as a midfielder, but Guardiola never plays him there.
"Within the centre of the pitch, Guardiola doesn't see him there, so there's the best part of £100m, around £90m on two midfield players who just aren't used as midfielders.
"I think City are very conscious that they can't get it wrong again. They have to get it right this time... I think City are much more aware of the need to get it right in the middle."
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'Douglas Luiz not a glamorous signing... but a functional one'
Asked if he can see Luiz returning to Man City, where he was once on the books between 2017 and 2019 but never made a single senior appearance, McInerney said: "I wouldn't be against it. I know it's quite divisive amongst Manchester City fans.
"Guardiola actually wanted Douglas Luiz to stay, but the only reason he didn't stay at City in the first place was because he couldn't get a work permit. It turned out he had to go out before eventually following up a loan at Girona with a (permanent) move to Aston Villa.
"He's got goals, he's got pace, he's got aggression, he's got work rate. [He's] not perfect. There's a little bit of intelligence [needed] to learn to play in a Guardiola system, but I think he's technically capable.
"The one thing Douglas Luiz has that our players don't is energy. He has legs, he's physically strong. If you can play in an [Unai] Emery system, which is intense, you can hold your own against most teams in the Premier League, whereas ours (Man City's midfielders) just can't.
"It's not a glamorous signing, but I think there's something to be said for a functional one right now given the amount of injuries we've got.
"I think there will still be a story or two potentially before the end of the transfer window, but for now, I would take Douglas Luiz personally. I know a lot of City fans wouldn't, but I think there's a reasonably sensible logic behind that that I could get behind."
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'Nypan seems to be one worth fighting for'
Man City have also been credited with an interest in Rosenborg starlet Sverre Nypan, who was in attendance at the Etihad Stadium for the Citizens' 3-1 Premier League win over Chelsea.
It is understood that the 18-year-old's representatives held talks with Man City last weekend, while they are also in discussions with the likes of Arsenal and Aston Villa as the highly sought-after Norwegian midfielder assesses his options.
"He's a name that's highly rated and you can see why," said McInerney. "Technically excellent, glides past people for fun, there's shades of Pedri and [Andreas] Iniesta there, he's smart, he affects games and he's played a vast amount of games already at such a very young age.
"The suggestion is that he's the most exciting talent Norway have had since [Martin] Odegaard. I would argue [Erling] Haaland was that man, but I understand the links.
"He looks really exciting and he looks very much like a Hugo Viana signing, City's new sporting director, who would sign players of that sort of stature at Sporting Lisbon before they were sold to for £80m to an elite-level club.
"I do like the idea of an 18-year-old wonderkid who can come and develop and before you know it, they're a household name in a year or two...it would be an exciting signing. I won't lose sleep over it either way, because we've got a lot of talent there, but I hope they get it done, because what I've seen of him - very little admittedly - he seems to be one worth fighting for."
Press play on the video at the top of this article to hear the full discussion.
Oliver Thomas
