Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says final days of transfer window to determine if champions retain title

Roberto Mancini believes the final five days of the transfer window will define the success or failure of Manchester City’s title defence. 

Mancini says new faces are imminent — the first is expected to be Swansea's Scott Sinclair for £5 million — after he saw his team escape Anfield with a 2-2 draw.

The City manager has been pursuing new recruits all summer and after requiring two defensive mishaps to claim a point against Liverpool, the need for additions was exposed.

“We need to bring players in and we have five days in which to do it,” he said. “We have to work hard in these four or five days. It will be a long week for us. It will decide how we perform this season. We have our targets and we will go for them in the next five days. Sinclair? Maybe. We have five days.”

City have also been hunting a new centre-half, although Mancini pronounced a move for Liverpool’s Daniel Agger dead.

The Italian believed his side merited their point on Merseyside.

“We played very well in the first 30 minutes and you should score in those moments if you want to win a game at Liverpool. Games are always difficult at Anfield. Then we conceded a goal from their first corner and something changed. We didn’t deserve to lose, but it’s a good result.

“I thought the players played well. There are not many teams who come back here and push Liverpool into their half as we did.”

There was also praise for Carlos Tévez as he continued his prodigal son routine with a late equaliser.

“I’m very pleased with the form he is in at this moment,” said Mancini. “I am happy for him and it is important for us that he continues to play like he has in the last two or three games.”

Mancini’s words could not disguise the need for the title-holders to reinforce if they are to retain their crown. Sinclair is likely to be first arrival after he missed Swansea’s win over West Ham.

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup is resigned to losing Sinclair to the Etihad Stadium but hopes the winger will leave with dignity.

“There is a lot of interest in Scott. We know things can move fast in this game but we will wait until Monday to see where things stand,” he said. “We know it could go on until Friday evening.

“I always say it is easy to smile, shake hands for the picture when people arrive. But I think it is nice to shake hands when they leave and that doesn’t happen often in this world of football.”