Manchester City are weighing up whether to add a midfielder to their January transfer window shopping list to relieve the pressure on the first team in the middle of the park - and City fans in the Manchester Evening News comments section are liking the idea of bringing back someone who was "unlucky" not to get a game for them.

City's recent frailty has been put down to centre-back injuries and the absence of star defensive midfielder Rodri. The Blues have already made some strides to correct their back line issues with the signing of Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens for £33.5 million, but an additional midfielder would not go amiss to support and challenge Rodri's back-up, Mateo Kovacic.

Ex-player Douglas Luiz could be brought back to Manchester City on a temporary deal to solve that problem. The Brazilian never played a game for City since signing in 2017 due to work permit issues, but spent five fine seasons at Aston Villa before leaving England for Juventus.

READ MORE: I saw what Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis did in strange first Man City training session

READ MORE: Man City transfer latest as two more deals set to be completed amid £250m spend

Luiz has not featured much for Juventus since his transfer last summer, making sixteen appearances. Other candidates are being lined up for a permanent move, but as with Atalanta's Ederson, there is an acceptance that the January market is difficult to secure a top target in.

Reader Blue.bee.leaf is all for it: “A loan for Douglas would be welcome. Including an option might not be a terrible idea, as we just don't know how well he'll adapt. Obviously, it was City that identified his potential years ago, and he's been unlucky that he couldn't stay with us.

"At minimum, he would provide extra cover for Kova, and can certainly be described as a DM, which Kova really isn't, but Kova knows the system. It's a move that makes much sense if we can't get the longer term lad through the door permanently in this window.

"That potential option can be negotiated now at a time Luiz isn't seemingly part of Juve's plans, so we have some leverage on a future fee, regardless how well he goes on to do for us. If it doesn't pan out, we've lost nothing, but there is an opportunity to gain.”

Bluemoonusa agrees: “Absolute no brainer. Get him in. Knows the City way of playing, knows the Premier League, and he will be hungry to claim a permanent deal. Would also finally be a square peg in a square hole. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

Bluesince1955 writes: “I think Luiz would be a very good option in this window if we can get him, because without some additional help in the defensive midfield we are still going to struggle unless we scored 3 or 4 every game.”

MenTech says: “This guy is an experienced Premier League player with over 200 appearances for Villa. Another former city player. He should be top of our list for CDM.”

GrogEisenbein thinks that this should've been the first priority: “What we have lacked all along are midfielders. Someone to step in for Rodri in his absence, for one thing, and secondly to take a load off Kevin, Ilkay and Bernardo who have looked threadbare this season. With O'Reilly and Wright not trusted and Nunes apparantly a right back now, this is where we need to bring in fresh players.”

Ata agrees: “We need at least one midfielder with more presence and personality. Like Rodri normally is, and like Dias is in the defence. First clean sheet in ages against Ipswich, no coincidence Ruben played that game. We should have more muscles in midfield. Foden, Rodri, Gundo and Kova is at least 100 pound short. Every team has got to have at least one who can take on the physical challenge. Fernandinho did it marvellously. For him it was his winning mentality that gave him that edge.”

Have your say! Can loans give City time to recover to their winning ways? Or is it time to start thinking about succession plans for experienced players? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.