First up, we take a look at Mark Lawrenson’s FA Cup predictions for our upcoming fourth round fixture against Cardiff City this weekend.
The BBC Sport pundit has revealed that he thinks the Blues will have the edge over Cardiff on Sunday, and thinks the result could sway 2-0 in City’s favour.
Writing in his column, Lawrenson said: “Manchester City will win this tie but I think Cardiff will give them a real game because they are strong physically and they will get into Pep Guardiola’s players.
“The Bluebirds are a typical Neil Warnock side and they are not going to lie down.
“They will get the ball up the pitch early and will be good at set-pieces and they will give the Premier League leaders lots of problems and make them hurry when they have got the ball, which is a good way playing them.
“Warnock says his side will need some “devilment” in their approach and I don’t think they will lack it - they will pile in and why wouldn’t you?
“You are allowed to tackle in football and it will just be interesting to see how City - and Pep - react to it.”
On to transfer speculation now, as journalist Pete Jensen has written a piece on why Aymeric Laporte would slot well into Manchester City’s defence.
“He has the pace to defend high up the pitch as Guardiola demands,” Jenson writes in the Daily Mail. “He is confident enough on the ball to think about building attacks from deep instead of just getting rid of the ball and, as Bielsa will have told Guardiola, he has the capacity to learn and develop even more at City.
“He also has as good a left foot as any young defender in Europe right now. That makes him the perfect long-term partner for right-footed John Stones.
“The ability on the ball comes in part from a youth spent playing as an offensive player.
“He’s no reluctant defender, trapped at the back while desperate to get forward, but he is a player who spent most of his youth football years at the other end of the pitch.
“He is a defender’s defender who can play when he needs to, but who will, first and foremost make Guardiola’s team harder to score against,” he added.
Finally, the Manchester Evening News has once again linked Brazilian midfielder, Fred, with the club.
“Manchester City have stepped up their attempts to sign Fred - holding extensive talks over the midfielder this week,” James Robson wrote.
“Pep Guardiola is determined to land the Brazilian international this month, with the Premier League leaders informing Shakhtar Donetsk they are willing to pay £45m for the 24-year-old.
“MEN Sport exclusively revealed City’s intention to sign Fred before the January transfer window closes.
“Shakhtar are open to a deal - but have proved fierce negotiators so far and value him at more than City’s offer.
“Guardiola wants the club to conduct some of their summer business this month, believing prices will inflate further at the end of the season.”
That’s all for toady’s media round-up, but we will be back tomorrow with more transfer gossip and news from the back pages!
