According to the Daily Mail, Manuel Pellegrini has set his sights on Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel to fill the void in the centre of his defence. The Slovakian signed a contract extension with the club in August 2012 but is expected to seek a move away from Anfield should the club fail to qualify for the Champions League this season. With the blues able to offer the defender the promise of European football this year, Skrtel could be tempted to make a move to the Etihad and would certainly provide a cheaper option than Eliaquim Mangala.
Certain to make way for the arrival of a defender in the summer is Joleon Lescott. The Mail believe the former England international will complete his move to Besiktas at the end of the season after being forced to see out his contract at the Etihad in the January window. Lescott was expected to leave the club last month, but City's failure to bring in a defender blocked any potential departure. The 31-year-old confirmed that he would leave Manchester at the end of the season after the club opted not to hand the centre-back a new contract.
(Joleon Lescott's 5-year stay with Manchester City will come to and end in the summer)
In other news, the blues have yet again been linked with Spanish superstar Isco. Marca believe Manuel Pellegrini will make a second attempt to sign the playmaker after watching his former player struggle for first team football at Real Madrid. City lost out to Los Blancos for the £25m signature of the ex-Malaga prodigy last summer, but could offer him an escape from his Real Madrid nightmare at the end of the season.
However, the Metro believe Arsenal will challenge the blues for the 21-year-old's services after accepting defeat in their pursuit of Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler.
(Isco has made just 15 league starts for Real Madrid this season)
