Five possible Manchester City transfer targets

Robin van Persie, Arsenal, £25m Emmanuel Adebayor is for sale and Edin Dzeko has not impressed, meaning that even if Mario Balotelli stays – which is not certain – Mancini requires a new striker. To confirm what he thinks of the Arsenal man rewind to early March: “We are interested in good players. All the good teams are interested in Van Persie. If there is a good player who wants to leave a club, then we are interested. I think Van Persie at this moment is one of the best strikers in Europe.” The Dutchman, who finished the season with 43 goals in 51 appearances, has only a year left on his contract and yesterday refused to confirm that his future lay at Arsenal: “We will have a chat next week and we will go from there,” he said. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images
Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Eden Hazard, Lille, £35m The 21-year-old Belgian, just named France’s Player of the Year, is an attacking midfielder or winger who frightens defenders with his pace and dribbling ability. Hazard’s recruitment would boost Mancini’s options as the Italian has questions to address in this area of the squad. David Silva has an ongoing ankle issue which has affected his form in recent months while Adam Johnson, now 24, may feel the need to move on following just 10 league starts this campaign. Hazard (left) is definitely going somewhere after he yesterday tweeted: “Two games more to play in the colours of Lille.” Photograph: Denis Charlet/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Denis Charlet/AFP/Getty Images

Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal, £25m Kolo Touré is 31 and the young Montenegrin Stefan Savic appears out of his depth in elite company. When Vincent Kompany was injured in early March, City lost at Swansea City to begin a month-long struggle that illustrated Mancini’s lack of depth in central defence. Vermaelen is arguably in the same class as Kompany, and he has the requisite Premier League experience. Having signed a new contract last October that ties him to Arsenal until 2015 City would have to start the bidding at around £20m. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/Press Association Images Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Cheick Tioté, Newcastle United, £25m Owen Hargreaves will not be offered another pay-as-you-play deal as his injury and fitness problems continue, leaving Roberto Mancini seeking competition for Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong and Yaya Touré as defensive midfielders. Tioté has been integral to Newcastle United’s excellent season that finished with the club in fifth. The owner, Mike Ashley, aware that the Ivorian is among his prime assets, ensured he would get the best price for him when the offers start by handing him a six-and-a-half year deal, which is unusually long. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Adriano, Barcelona, £15m With Aleksandar Kolarov not representing a genuine alternative to Gaël Clichy on the left, and Micah Richards recently displaced on the right, Mancini appears to require a full-back. Adriano (left), taken from Sevilla to Barcelona in 2010 for £8m – having won the Uefa Cup twice there – can operate on either defensive flank and, with 13 appearances for Brazil, he also has international experience. The 27-year-old has not been a regular a starter at the Camp Nou, being selected only 19 times in La Liga this year, and with just two years left on his contract could be brought to the Etihad for a relatively small sum. Photograph: Angel Fernandez/AP Photograph: Angel Fernandez/AP