Former Manchester City star Trevor Sinclair has urged Manuel Pellegrini to sign a new central defender before the end of the January transfer window.

With Vincent Kompany out for much of the season so far, City have struggled defensively and backup defenders Nicolas Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis have not ably stepped in to cover the absence of the skipper.

Sinclair believes that the City backline is significantly weakened in the absence of Kompany and has now urged Pellegrini to bring in a new central defender in January as the likes of Otamendi, Mangala and Demichelis have simply not been good enough.

Sinclair said exclusively to 888poker.com: "If I was in charge would I be tempted to bring in another defender? Yes I would.

"Any partnership between Nicolas Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis doesn't fill me with a tremendous amount of confidence.

"The people at the club will have done their scouting and if they have someone in mind just to shore up that central defence in case Vincent Kompany doesn't come back until next season it gives them a better chance of winning the league.

"I don't really like that Otamendi and Dimichelis link-up and Mangala is out so it is an area City need to strengthen."