Journalists are also looking ahead to Saturday’s showdown with Spurs, with suggestions of how Pep Guardiola’s side might line up also featuring in our perusal of the back pages.
We start by taking a look at a suggestion of a new arrival at the Etihad Stadium, with William Carvalho the latest player linked with a move to east Manchester this month.
The 24-year-old has long been touted for a move to the Premier League and Bleacher Report’s ‘Football Insider’, Dean Jones, believes City are one of the teams competing for his signature.
“Pep Guardiola is looking to sign a new midfielder, with Sporting CP’s William Carvalho one of the names on his wanted list,” he writes.
“Target Carvalho has an effortless style of play and has been compared to Patrick Vieira, but a deal to sign him this month would not prove straightforward.
“West Bromwich Albion have been looking into a deal to sign him for a while. Predictably, I’m told there has also been a recent offer from China.”
Meanwhile, Saturday’s game against second placed Tottenham is sure to receive many a column inch this week.
Who starts for the Blues is up for consideration in the Daily Mirror, with David McDonnell tipping Fabian Delph to be involved at the Etihad.
The England international came off the bench to continue his comeback from injury in the 5-0 win against West Ham and the Mirror’s report suggests he could be in from the off against Spurs.
“Guardiola is set to change his midfield personnel around for Saturday’s showdown with Spurs,” says McDonnell.
“And Delph, who has only recently returned from a long injury lay-off, could be the man to whom he turns to try to suppress Tottenham’s marauding attackers.
“As well as Delph, Guardiola may also turn to young midfielder Aleix Garcia, who impressed in City’s 1-0 EFL Cup defeat at Manchester United earlier this season.”
In other news, David Villa is confident City will bounce back from the weekend’s defeat at Everton.
The New York City forward played under Guardiola at Barcelona and believes the man he credits as being ‘great for his career’ is set for a bright future in Manchester.
“He has a difficult period right now but I believe he will change the situation,” Villa told Reuters.
“(It) is normal to have a difficult period with the team, but he is great and I think he has a methodology and he has a very good coaching staff to change the situation and the future (at City) will be better for sure.
“Soccer is difficult in every country and I am so lucky that I was able to play for Guardiola. He is a great coach, for everyone who likes soccer. But in soccer it is difficult to win and he has almost always won. His statistics are amazing.”
That concludes today’s paper talk, but we’ll be back with more of the same tomorrow!
