Joleon Lescott has said that he would be open to a move away from Manchester City just three years after joining the club from Everton. Striker Mario Balotelli is also being linked with a move away and back to his native Italy.
The report in the Guardian suggest that both players could be on their way from the club by the end of the season or just after the end of the season which does nothing to help Manchester City in terms of their longevity.
The underlying problem the club has faced so far in terms of players they have missed out on is the fact that those players will not commit to a club where their role is undefined or uncertain.
The knock on effect of this for city over the next two to three years could have a major impact on the club in terms of their success. They are at a point where they are looking to break away from Manchester United and not only compete with them.
The situation of Lescott demonstrates this problem clearly. He was a key figure in the Manchester City defence over the 2011/2012 season as the club won its first Premier League title. He now finds himself fit but the fourth choice central defender.
City will never have a problem meeting the wage requirements of the best players while they are backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Group. They will also not have a problem paying the transfer fees.
The problem they have, and will continue to have, is the turn around time of players and what that means in terms of commitment. If Lescott does leave in January it means he has been turned around in three years; signed, played and then sold on.
If Manchester City are to have an extended period of success with a team, that David Silva suggests can be talked about like Barcelona, then they need to be signing only the key players they need.
Signing a high number of top profile or egotistical players in a single position means City will always be linked with a fast turnaround time for their best players which will effectively plateau the club and prevent them from moving forward.
The Champions League showed this season that City are way off the pace compared to their rivals around Europe. They will only catch up when everything is fully settled which will not happen while players are coming and going frequently.
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