Big-spending Manchester City secured their place in the last 32 of the Europa League this week, as well as maintaining their targeted place in the EPL’s top four and its accompanying Champions League qualification spot.

But the rumours of impending moves for some of their stellar squad are hotting up as the January Transfer Window approaches, with out-of-favour striker Emanuel Adebayor the most-talked about, not least by…er…Emanuel Adebayor.

City produced their best performance of the season to win 4-1 at Fulham, manager Roberto Mancini getting one over on his immediate predecessor in the Eastlands hot seat Mark Hughes.

 

But they followed that with a more typical City display in a tight 1-1 draw at Stoke City, brightened only by an excellent individual goal from the unlikely source of right-back Micah Richards.

Their 3-0 Eastlands victory over Red Bull Salzburg ensured qualification for the Europa League knock-out stages with one game left in City’s group, a trip to Turin to play already knocked-out Juventus.

City require a point to win their group, thereby avoiding the third-placed teams in the Champions League groups, who join the secondary competition in the final 32.

Two goals from Mario Balotelli and a super individual effort from Adam Johnson gave City a facile victory over the group’s worst team, despite Mancini giving game time to a number of fringe players.

Togolese frontman Adebayor publicly suggested last week that: “I’m going to change air during the transfer window in January. And I can tell you City has already reached an agreement with Juventus for a loan.”

But the Turin giants have already signed one non-EU player this season and cannot sign any more according to new rules.

In response, Mancini issued a general warning to any of City’s want-away stars, although he did leave open the question of Adebayor’s departure.

Adebayor has been given few recent starting opportunities, and was a substitute again against Salzburg. But Mancini said the ex-Gunner must “concentrate on the games between now and January,” before adding: “then we will see what happens.”

His message to the whole squad was “At the moment there is no chance for any player to leave this club. All of our players must think about their job. When they play, they must play hard and when they train, they must train hard.”

City host Bolton Wanderers in a Greater Manchester derby in the EPL this coming Saturday.