Premier League: Will Mangala be last Man City signing?

Eliaquim Mangala is almost certain to join Man City

Eliaquim Mangala will shortly be confirmed as Man City's fourth purchase. Michael Lintorn thinks that might be enough...

Man City had a nightmare in the transfer window that followed their first Premier League triumph, waiting until mid-August to sign anyone, while the eventual arrival list was a scattergun spectacular: Jack Rodwell, Richard Wright, Scott Sinclair, Maicon, Matija Nastasic and Javi Garcia.

That sextet averaged 8.33 Premier League starts each in 2012/13's inglorious title defence, and that figure shrunk to a barely-there 4.33 as they wrestled top spot back last term with the assistance of a perfect transfer strategy in which they bought early and decisively.

Fernandinho and Jesus Navas were recruited even before Manuel Pellegrini's June appointment was confirmed, with Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic joining in mid-July. The only move that wasn't carefully planned was Martin Demichelis', which was a reaction to Vincent Kompany getting injured.

Man City have replicated the recipe which worked so well last summer, with four additions set to be completed by the end of July, each one resolving a perceived shortcoming in the squad.

Bacary Sagna provides a high-quality alternative to Pablo Zabaleta as well as creating the option of using the Argentine at left back at times to accommodate both - while his capture was a proactive method of addressing Micah Richards' potential departure too.

Fernando injects some much-needed competition in midfield, where last season's starters Yaya Toure and Fernandinho were streets ahead of understudies Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell, leading to centre back Demichelis being favoured there when either regular was out.

Willy Caballero replaces Costel Pantilimon, who left for Sunderland, and the Argentine shot-stopper offers a far more genuine threat to Joe Hart's spot in the side.

The fourth acquisition will be centre back Eliaquim Mangala judging by an accidental leak on the club website. He fills the void made by Joleon Lescott's exit and - at a likely cost of around 32 million - will probably head straight into the team alongside Kompany.

Once the Frenchman's purchase is finalised, Man City will be well-stocked in every position, with the only other piece of business worth considering being another central midfielder if it is true that they intend to use Toure as a number ten in a 4-2-3-1 more regularly in 2014/15 and are selling Garcia.

If not, they appear good to go already and stronger than in Manuel Pellegrini's debut campaign, so it is surprising that they trail Chelsea in the Premier League winner betting at 3.55n/a.