Manchester City look to be adapting well to new manager Pep Guardiola’s style of play. The Citizens find themselves lying in 4th place in the Premier League table as we move into December, on the cusp of the busy festive period.

City are within touching distance of the top, and must be thinking about what additions they should make to their squad next month if they are to pip their title rivals and be crowned champions of England.

But what a squad it is, on paper they have a number quality options for most positions. But they must be able to improve somewhere, they’re not the prefect team yet, that’s for sure.

We here at Shoot! reckon they could do with a new full back or two, would their current options of Kolorov, Clichy, Sagna and Zabaleta get into any of the top European teams like Barca, Bayern or Juventus? The answer is probably not. With that in mind here are THREE reasons why City must sign a defender in January.

Their current options at full-back are ageing

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

City’s current options at full back are all a little on the old-side. Aleksander Kolorov (31), Gael Clichy (31), Pablo Zabaleta (31) and Bacary Sagna (33) are all over the age of 30.

In a game where physical fitness is becoming more and more important, especially within a league that is renowned for it’s intensity, City must freshen up their options this January, or these ageing players could really fall off a cliff fitness-wise in the second half of the campaign.

It’s the main weakness in the side

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Aguero and Iheanacho have proven they can score goals at Premier League level up top. In attacking mid they have an embarrassment if riches including De Bruyne, Silva, Nolito, Sterling and Sane. They are well covered at centre back too with Stones, Otamendi and Kompany, as well as Kolorov, who has proven he can perform well there in a Pep team.

Whilst Clichy, Kolorov, Zabaleta and Sagna are by no means bad players, it’s the most obvious area for improvement in the side. Especially when you compare them with the options of teams City are aiming to match quality-wise, Barca have Alba, Bayern have Lahm and Alaba, and Juventus have Alex Sandro. City’s options don’t offer the same quality as any of these players and they should be looking to address that this January.

The full-backs play an important role in Pep’s side

Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

Full backs are vital to how Pep sets his team up. In a revolutionary tactic not seen before in English football the Spaniard encourages his full-backs to tuck-in when his team are in possession, effectively becoming central midfield players.

This tactic allows the actual central midfielders to occupy other positions further forward and either find space or draw defenders towards them, which in turn creates space elsewhere for others.

Guardiola will need a clever all round footballer to play in this role effectively, one who can defend well, but can also pick a pass. It’ll be hard to find but it is the next step for this City team, as they look to grab their first ever European Trophy this term.