Manchester City's strikers Sergio Aguero (£38m: 13 goals), Edin Dzeko (£27m: 13 goals) and Carlos Tevez (£40m: 8 goals) make up one of the most feared forward lines in world football, so what is going wrong?
Is it Aguero's isolation up top? Is it that City need width in order to suit Edin's aerial abilities? Is it Carlos' underlying desire to return to his native Argentina? Whatever it is, it has contributed significantly to the ample 12 point lead rivals Manchester United hold at the top of the table.
The striking stats of the Premier League champions look shoddy compared to the rest:
Messi (49), Villa (12), Pedro (7). Total: 68
Ronaldo (39), Benzema (13), Higuain (10). Total: 62
Van Persie (23), Hernandez (15), Rooney (13). Total: 61
El Sharaawy (19), Pazzini (11), Balotelli (4). Total: 34Even AC Milan's record this season matches ours and one of their strikers (one we're all familiar with as City fans) has only played 4 games for the club.
However, Mancini has assured fans that the Summer of 2013 will be an exciting one as he plans to bring goals into the team. On his radar are South American superstars Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani who have netted 27 times each this season. But who is better for City?
Edinson Cavani
Club: Napoli
Age: 26
Career Games/Goals: 272/142
Value: £54m
The prolific Uruguayan took his time to establish himself on the European goalscoring charts, but now that he's started, it doesn't look like he'll ever stop.
Twenty-seven goals in 30 appearances this season have helped Napoli to second place in Serie A just behind Italian champions Juventus. Although Cavani was still bagging for fun last season (33 goals in 48 appearances), it seems Lavezzi's departure has allowed him to step into the limelight.
His speed, tenacity and ability to score wonder goals has alerted Europe's top clubs including Spanish champions Real Madrid and French moneybags Paris St Germain. City have been constantly linked with the Uruguayan but face stiff competition with reports suggesting Madrid have opened talks with his representatives already.
If Mancini is intent on getting his man, the club will have to fork out £54m to meet his release clause. It's a huge amount of money, but an amount that may bring the trophy back home to Eastlands.
Radamel Falcao
Club: Atletico Madrid
Age: 27
Career Games/Goals: 269/180
Value: £50m
Like Cavani, Radamel Falcao has propelled his team to an unfamiliar second place this season ahead of local rivals Real Madrid. With 27 goals in 28 appearances this season, only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stand above him in the goalscoring charts.
His record earned him his place in this years FIFA XI alongside the stars of Barcelona and Real Madrid and his ability has attracted some of the biggest names in world football.
It is suggested that Chelsea and Real Madrid lead the chase for the Colombian, however, City will be waiting in the background should a deal to any of the two clubs falter.
In order to bag the 'world's deadliest striker', City will have to part with £50m. His record is better than Cavani's and his price is cheaper, so is he the man for the job?
Which one for City?
If Mancini does decided to bring in one of the two, City's goalscoring statistics will undoubtedly soar. The question is, who will work better with Aguero?
Dzeko is Bundesliga bound and Tevez will soon be returning to Argentina, so Sergio will have the pleasure of acquainting with another of the world's best strikers.
Aguero & Cavani
Both share similar work rates and dribbling skills. Should they form a partnership, they would have to negotiate who chases down the ball and who would drop/sit on the defender's shoulder. However, Cavani also possesses aerial ability which would allow him to stay in a central position whilst Sergio floated around him.
Aguero & Falcao
This partnership, on paper, looks the most suitable. Falcao tends to sit in a central position where his tremendous aerial ability can be utilised. However, he also possesses a great deal of pace and power which gives him the option to drop, pick up the ball and drive at defenders.
It'll be a tough decision for Mancini but whoever he decides to choose, City will acquire one of Europe's most profilic strikers.
