Do Manchester City need to sign a striker in January?

By Oscar Maung-Haley

We’re now into November and Manchester City’s title defence is in full swing.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea have started the season in equally impressive fashion, with Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel’s sides looking the most likely to dethrone City.

It leads us to ask, do Manchester City need to sign a striker in January to ensure they keep their Premier League crown?

Yes, they need to add some firepower

There’s no doubt that Manchester City have perhaps the best overall squad in the Premier League. In almost every position, they have an abundance of talent.

No-one else bar Chelsea could field a bench that boasts players of the ability of Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez.

With a squad that strong, do City really need to add a striker in January?

So far this season, their only real natural striker, Gabriel Jesus, has found himself operating on the right wing, with a rotation of Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and Sterling playing centrally.

But for all their brilliance and depth, City sit third in the Premier League for goals scored through ten rounds of action behind both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Therefore, it would be a fair assumption that if they want to be able to keep up with their title rivals, they need to add an out-and-out forward to their ranks.

It’s all well and good rotating your all-star cast of midfielders, but signing a recognised striker in January would go a long way to helping improve their title defence.

Perhaps they could test Borussia Dortmund’s resolve over Erling Haaland in the January window if they don’t want to have to contend with others who are willing to pay his release clause in the summer, or renew their interest in Harry Kane who appears to be a man desperate to leave Spurs.

No, they’re fine with what they have

Look, the reality is Manchester City remain very good at football, with or without signing a forward in January.

As a result of missing out on Kane in the summer, the story of Manchester City’s season was always going to be ‘would they be better if they’d signed a striker?'

Any time City don’t score, it is a question that will be asked, which is odd given City could go on a five-game win streak, lose a game 1-0 and be faced with this very question.

City’s squad is good enough to win the Premier League title. They did it last season without a recognised striker which is something that should be talked up more as an incredible achievement.

Additionally, it should also be pointed out that while money is no object to City, who will be available in January who would instantly walk into their side? Pretty much no-one.

And even if they did, there’s a likelihood that there might need to be a bedding in process at the Etihad.

Conclusion

There’s certainly a case for City to sign a forward in January. For one, it would improve Manchester City by adding a different edge to their game, diversifying their attack.

However, who could really join City in January that would make them even better than they already are? There aren’t too many forwards available who could do that.

City would be better off avoiding the inflated January market and should look to add another forward in the summer who could really make their starting line-up better.

PHOTO CREDITS: GETTY IMAGES