Anyone would think Manchester City are stocked with lower league journeyman and Premier League has-beens such has been the reaction in some quarters to their recent run.

City's season has unravelled in recent weeks with just one win in 11 meaning they are in danger of being out of the title race by Christmas while Champions League progression is not yet secure. Pep Guardiola has pointed to the mitigating factors - injuries and the schedule being the main ones - but has acknowledged he needs a bigger squad and must find answers from within over the coming weeks.

And while it's clear City need to strengthen, it's a rebuild not a rip it up and start again. There is plenty of talent in the ranks that are either injured, lacking in match fitness or under-performing. Those are solvable issues.

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Ruben Dias has been a consistent performer since his return to the side and at 27 can be a leader for the now and the future. Manuel Akanji is something of an under the radar imperative in defence and while he is 29, his performances have proven he can be a part of an elite-level squad.

John Stones and Nathan Ake may be too injury prone to be relied on week in and week out but Rico Lewis - who Guardiola called his most consistent performer this season - is talented enough to be a mainstay for years to come even if his best position perhaps needs to be nailed down. The same could be said for Josko Gvardiol who has struggled recently but is the second top scorer and is young enough and strong enough to learn and improve.

A fit and firing Phil Foden would walk into any team in the league while Rodri is a Ballon d'Or winner and Erling Haaland is the best number nine in the business.

Oscar Bobb is a talent that would have been unleashed this season but for injury while Jeremy Doku and Savinho haven't had the consistent impact they might have wanted, but both are young, talented wingers capable of performing to a high level if a tactical shift allowed them to be more direct.

Take those 10, supplement them with a few key signings in key areas and perhaps promote some of the talent coming through at the academy and City have a squad capable of challenging at the top at home and abroad.