As the new Premier League season draws nearer, Manchester City's bid to improve their squad under new manager Pep Guardiola continues. It would seem the club are still in the hunt for a centre-back, be it Everton's John Stones or Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci, and there's the sense that one or two more surprises could be sprung by director of football Txiki Begiristain ahead of the opener with Sunderland in August.

While the incomings seem to be picking up a little pace, the outgoings are doing the exact opposite. A proposed move for Pablo Zabaleta to Roma appears to have stalled, while speculation remains about the futures of the likes of Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov but without any resolution.

In the middle of all of the rumours is someone who's become something of a forgotten man at Eastlands. Samir Nasri spent the vast majority of last season injured and unavailable for selection, and the club got on with business without him, albeit inconsistently.

In truth, he was probably missed more than initially thought. David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne suffered injuries in the latter half of the campaign and there was nobody to offer the creative spark in their absence.

It was very much a case of the supporters not knowing what they had until it was gone, as the form guide took a turn for the better following the midfielder's return to fitness. City only lost three of the 13 matches he featured in.

Nasri's never been seen as a crucial member of the team at the Etihad beyond perhaps his first season. Back then, Roberto Mancini's City stole the title from under the noses of Manchester United in one of the most closely fought campaigns in the sport's history -- and Nasri and Silva were the key men in creating chances for the Italian's free-scoring side.

But things turned sour the following year, and his standing with supporters hit rock bottom as he deflected Robin van Persie's last-minute free kick into the net in a 3-2 Manchester derby loss in December 2012. He didn't stand up to the shot and instead turned his back, which flicked it past Joe Hart and into the goal when he could have blocked it.

Many were surprised to see the Frenchman stay the following summer. Mancini was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini and everybody was given a clean slate, which suited the creative midfielder. His previous poor form was wiped away and he was able to thrive in an attacking side that scored 156 goals in all competitions.

The pattern of a good season followed by a bad one continued, though, as he -- along with the vast majority of his teammates, it has to be said -- underperformed in 2014-15.

That, combined with a six-month absence through injury in Pellegrini's final campaign, has left him in a strange position. He's well behind the likes of Silva and De Bruyne in the pecking order, while the arrival of Nolito will add to the competition for places in the offensive third. However, he's almost like a new signing himself and could thrive in Guardiola's City because of his playing style.

The midfielder is one of the best the club has ever had at retaining possession. His eye for a pass is excellent and he's usually very good at finding his target, even if many fans believe that's because he doesn't take many chances and doesn't play risky passes. He holds onto the ball under pressure and can wriggle free from tight areas, which could prove quite useful as a varied form of attack in a rejuvenated City.

Off the pitch, Nasri isn't afraid to speak his mind, and his attitude is regularly questioned because he's been known to pull out of challenges or, as with the 2012 Manchester derby defeat, shy away from blocks or putting his body on the line.

However, Guardiola has a history of both getting the best out of players many feel aren't up to the job of being in a star-studded lineup and of recognising how to use individuals to their strengths. If there's one member of City's squad that could use someone like that right now, it's Nasri -- he needs to be played where he can be a key cog in the club's attack.

He also offers flexibility when others are injured -- the midfielder's performances remain consistent whether he's attacking from the left wing, through the centre or the right flank. At 29, he's hardly the oldest in the squad either.

Many are on the fence with him. There are thousands of fans who wouldn't mind seeing him stay, but equally wouldn't complain if he's moved on either.

As a raft of changes might still take place in the build-up to the new season, though, City really would be foolish to overlook one of the players who was crucial in their two Premier League title wins.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by David Mooney

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