Our Manchester City fans here in the Transfer Tavern are beside themselves thanks to Jutarnji’s report that they could sign Ivan Rakitic from Barcelona.

The Citizens have not had it all their own way this season but things look to be picking up based on recent performances.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola certainly looks like he’s targeting silverware in some shape or form this year with the strength of the side he put out last time out against West Ham in the FA Cup.

The Citizens brushed aside the Hammers 5-0 at the London Stadium and our landlord reckons, if the club are looking to challenge on all fronts this year, they’ll need more players in this month.

Rakitic could just be the tip of the iceberg, then, and so, with that in mind, here are two more players our landlord reckons the club could sign this month…

Virgil Van Dijk

The Mirror have reported that Southampton have said that the City target Van Dijk is not for sale but our landlord is having none of that.

Every player has their price – just look at the likes of Paul Pogba, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale in recent years – and so if City made the right offer you can bet they’d get Van Dijk in. Our landlord reckons they will, too, because they need a defender desperately and have the resources to do so.

Holger Badstuber

Our landlord doesn’t think the defensive recruitment could end there, though.

With Vincent Kompany struggling with injury, only John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi can be considered as reliable enough centre backs at the club and that simply won’t do. The Citizens want to be challenging for everything and so they need a big squad and our landlord, as well as The Manchester Evening News, reckon Holger Badsutber could be another incoming.

Thoughts, City fans? Let us know below!