Mancini pessimistic on Serie A buys

The prospects of our taking Mathieu Flamini from AC Milan seem to have taken a bit of a knock, as Mancini has said that a move for Flamini - or for Giorgio Chiellini of Juventus - are unlikely:

Mancini said: "I think it's impossible Chiellini will leave Juventus, because he's their best defender right now. He's the best defender in Italy, probably.

"Flamini is a good player. But he is part of a Milan side who are doing very well in Serie A at the moment. They are only six points behind Inter. I don't think he would want to leave that at the moment. For me, Chiellini and Flamini are impossible."

It's a bit of a shame but not a disaster. Having signed Patrick Vieira Flamini would be more valuable as a full-back than a midfielder, and we do have a good stable of centre-backs at the moment without Chiellini. I'd love us to spend big there but with Vincent Kompany in the form he's in I'm not sure our season necessarily depends on it. And there are other targets out there.

Mancini wants Flamini and Gago

Roberto Mancini's willingness to speak to the Italian media about life at City is going to give us a bit of an insight into his thinking from time to time. Today's it happened as he candidly discussed transfer targets with Gazzetta dello Sport:

"I need players. I hope that Vieira is fit for the return.

"Perhaps Real Madrid will give me Gago, maybe Milan (give me) Flamini..."

We've heard about the Flamini link before. I'm quite keen on it: he's tough, versatile, experienced at the top end of the Premier League and will give us cover in key positions. The rumour is further strengthened today by a Stuart Brennan article in the M.E.N. saying that MCFC sources have confirmed that Flamini is 'in their sights.' So I think this one is quite likely to happen.

The other rumour, though, is a real surprise. Fernando Gago is a 23 year old Argentine midfielder who has just been pushed out of the Real Madrid side by the arrival of Xabi Alonso. He's quite a nice player to watch, and has had a well-decorated career to date with trophies at Real and Boca Juniors. But I just can't see him being a success in the Premier League. His style is essentially a composite of criticisms people make of Michael Carrick. He's got a great eye for a pass, but he's not that quick, not that strong, needs time on the ball to be successful and he doesn't like being tackled.

How a squad with Nigel de Jong, Gareth Barry, Vincent Kompany, Stephen Ireland, Pablo Zabaleta, Patrick Vieira and quite possibly Mathieu Flamini is improved by Gago's arrival I don't know. On the positive side, if we signed him we would have three Argentines, which would be cool - four if we bought Cristian Ansaldi. Gago was in the same Olympics squad last summer as Zabaleta, and he grew up in the Boca Juniors academy alongside Tévez - playing together briefly in December 2004.

Flamini linked

A new transfer rumour today, and an unexpected one: a possible loan deal for Mathieu Flamini, of AC Milan but formerly of Arsenal. It came about this morning - apparently Sky Sports News 'understands' that he is 'set' to join us on loan for the rest of the season. Now that doesn't mean that it's definitely going to happen, but Sky do have a decent track record with getting these stories.

Keen to follow up, I asked John Cross - the Mirror's Arsenal expert - if he knew anything. He replied:

Def in for him, maybe right back?

So I do think there's something in this one.

I think he would be a very valuable addition to the squad. What we are crying out for is cover and improvement at both left and right-back. Flamini played the former position for Arsenal and the latter for Milan. He can also play holding midfield, and while we are good for options there now the fact is that with Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry looking exhausted, Patrick Vieira unfit and Vincent Kompany busy in defence we would benefit from an addition more than you might first think.

There's a necessary short-term element to January recruiting. Buying young players and re-structuring the squad can wait until the summer. For now we need extra bodies and experience, as we attempt to juggle progress in three competitions. So it is important we get players who can come straight into the side. Flamini played 102 Premier League games in his spell with Arsenal - 153 in all competitions, and so - like his mentor and predecessor at Arsenal Patrick Vieira - he should, fitness permitting, be able to slot straight into our side.

It's not a done deal yet, and there are more important things to think about today, but this is a deal I'd love to see go through.