Man City's next January signing must replace three players and have three specific qualities

Manchester City have tried everything to get out of their crisis, but the blows keep coming and the morale is only getting worse inside the dressing room.

With the January transfer window opening in three days, pressing the big red button to delve back into the winter window might be the only way out of the rut.

Pep Guardiola has insisted City are playing well for most of their wretched run of one win in 13, but they have failed to do the two most important things: score at one end and keep it out at the other.

Every time they look to take a step forward out of the spiralling crisis, there is a new injury, or another mistake, or some other setback. With each one, fate chips a little more confidence away.

"Of course, there are some days where you are low and low in energy," admitted goalkeeper Stefan Ortega in a concerning admission that reveals the fragility of the collective mindset in the City dressing room.

"Everyone here in this club is trying to turn it around," Ortega continued. "When you play for a club like Manchester City there is pressure every week - this is not new for us. The situation of getting results is a bit different than to usual.”

“Everyone is frustrated. You have two options - give up or try to continue and keep going which is what we’re doing right now. No one is missing a chance on purpose. It’s just the reality right now. We’re trying to turn it around, score more goals and defend better.”

As Rico Lewis pointed out last week, the time for talking is over and City must show what they are made of on the pitch with the players they have left. As much as injuries are the root cause of the rut, City have long passed the point where they can keep blaming who isn't there and instead focus on who is.

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