Manchester City thumped West Ham 4-0 at the London Stadium on Wednesday night to keep the pressure on the Premier League’s top four.

Pep Guardiola’s side went to East London having already won there in January (they beat the Hammers 5-0 in the third round of the FA Cup), and they produced another sparkling display to go level on points with fourth place Liverpool.

It means that City are now four points clear of neighbours Manchester United in sixth, and also just a point off second place Tottenham.

Guardiola’s men host struggling Swansea on Sunday hoping to record back-to-back league wins for the first time in 2017, and with new signing Gabriel Jesus having got the ball rolling at the Etihad, they’ll be confident of another three points on Sunday.

However, City’s struggles in the first half of the campaign prompted many to suggest that Guardiola needed to strengthen in January to cut the gap on leaders Chelsea but, apart from Jesus, there were no incomings at the Etihad this season.

And, given that they were linked with many high-profile signings, here are THREE massive deals City missed out on last month…

Virgil van Dijk

It has been at the back where City have really struggled this season, so it was no surprise to see them linked with Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk in January.

The Dutch international has been outstanding for the Saints this season, and was for much of last term once he settled in and got used to the English game following a move from Celtic in the summer of 2015.

The 25-year-old has been arguably the best centre-back in the division this term, and unsurprisingly attracted much interest from some of the biggest clubs in England.

One of which was City, who clearly saw van Dijk as the answer to their defensive concerns, yet no deal was done for the Dutchman.

Yet, if he continues to perform at the same standard in the coming months, a summer bid from City is not out of the question.

Ivan Rakitic

This deal was always unlikely to happen, yet there were murmurings that Ivan Rakitic could quit Barcelona in January.

The Croatian international moved to the Nou Camp in 2014 after a successful stint at Sevilla, and has gone on to make 136 appearances for Luis Enrique’s men, winning two La Liga titles as well as a Champions League crown.

However, the 28-year-old has started just 12 of their 20 La Liga games so far this season, and spoke a while back about his desire to one day work with Guardiola, such is the huge respect he has for the City boss.

Thus, speculation was rife that Rakitic could link up with the former Barca boss at the Etihad Stadium, yet it was a move that wasn’t done in January, and doesn’t look like being done anytime soon, as Rakitic stated yesterday that his future was at the Spanish club.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Sergio Aguero’s exclusion from the City squad to face Barcelona all the way back in October increased speculation that Guardiola may be after a striker to replace the Argentine.

And one name that was linked with a move to the Etihad was Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, one of the most prolific forwards in world football.

The Gabon international moved to the German side in 2013 after netting 41 goals in just 96 games for Saint Etienne, and he’s become even more prolific in Dortmund, having scored 80 times in 143 appearances in his three full seasons at the club.

Yet, the 27-year-old looks set to better last season’s tally of 39 goals this time round, having already scored 20 goals in just 21 games for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

Unsurprisingly, his unbelievable form in front of goal has attracted much interest from around Europe, and City were one side linked with a move for Aubameyang.

However, no deal was done in January, so City will have to wait until at least the summer to try and bring their man to England.