The more I see of Manchester City, the more I am surprised their powers-that-be didn't see this coming. They've been caught asleep at the wheel. Spending over £130million in January, a record for City in a winter window, only underlines that a club that seems so well organised did not react quickly enough to their obvious shortcomings.
![[City's weaknesses were badly exposed by PSG in midweek as they roared back to win 4-2]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/17/94485185-14322461-image-a-2_1737740365893.jpg)
They were easily second-best to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek and to now be in a situation where they need to beat Club Bruges to qualify for the next stage of the Champions League, it highlights how several of their players are on a downward spiral.
![[Omar Marmoush has been City's big-ticket addition this month, for £59m from Frankfurt]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/19/94434587-14322461-Omar_Marmoush_has_signed_for_Man_City_for_an_initial_fee_of_59mi-a-33_1737747666477.jpg)
They have been in the box seat for several years now, the perfect position to look ahead and implement careful planning but this splurge at this time is not one you would identify with a club that gets most things right. Buying in January hints at panic because you always pay a premium. Even if City insist they were players identified for next summer and brought forward, that's not the hallmarks of a club building dynasties.
![[New signings Abdukodir Khusanov (left) and Vitor Reis have arrived to bolster the defence]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/17/94485217-14322461-image-a-4_1737740373920.jpg)
That £130m is more than Manchester City’s spending in the eight previous January transfer windows put together, since Pep Guardiola arrived in 2016. Kevin De Bruyne is in the twilight of his career and injuries have caught up with him. City's weaknesses were badly exposed by PSG in midweek as they roared back to win 4-2.
![[Kyle Walker has been allowed to leave for AC Milan on his terms rather than the club's]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/24/17/94485233-14322461-image-a-6_1737740414061.jpg)
