I repeat: Buy Boateng

The stars are aligning in City's first team and for Boateng's fantasy prospects:

"Without flying full backs like Boateng and Kolarov, who can push forward, I’ve had to adjust the team to get results and stay in touch with the leaders. But only until everyone is back and fit.”

The positive signs here are two fold:

1. Being specifically mentioned by your manager as an important first team player is always a big deal and this ends any worries I had that Boateng might share time at the right back spot.
2. Being described as a 'flying' full back suggests that Boateng (and Kolarov) will have plenty of freedom and will be allowed to attack the opposition regularly. Boateng's game against Newcastle does not really suggest any more freedom than Richards had but we will see if Mancini opens up the team more when everyone is fit.

A further boon to Boateng's value is City's relatively kind fixture list which, while seeing City entertain both Arsenal and United in the next 5 weeks, also sees them face no other big five* side until week 22. There toughest away game until that point is @Fulham which isn't exactly terrifying. Based on current and prior year performances, City rank 5th in my short/mid term defensive rankings.

At 5.8m Boateng will be 0.5m cheaper than Toure, who is the best City prospect so far this year. I think Boateng will become a mainstay in this side, and provide better attacking options than Toure. I feel that he has top 5 defender potential and would put him against anyone from here on in who doesn't play for Chelsea or United.

Perhaps the strongest recommendation I can give him is that I will be buying him myself as soon as I work out how to use my transfers this week.

*For those keeping score at home the big five currently consists of Chelsea, United, Arsenal, Spurs and City. Sorry Liverpool but Theo Epstein and a juiced Big Papi can't save this team too.