After the departures of James Milner, Frank Lampard, Scott Sinclair and Micah Richards, Manchester City have been left in desperate need of expanding their expensively-assembled squad with home-grown talent. However, their attempts to bolster their ranks have so far failed, with Liverpool rejecting two offers for winger Raheem Sterling, while also pipping City for striker Danny Ings, who was a reported target for Manuel Pellegrini.

With goalkeeper Joe Hart their remaining domestic player, Sports Mole suggests five players that City could attempt to sign before the end of the summer.

1. Fabian Delph

With Lampard having departed for MLS, a place in midfield has become vacant at the Etihad Stadium, and if reports are to be believed, Pellegrini has already made Arsenal's Jack Wilshere his main target.

However, with City unlikely to pay in the region of £40m for a player who has been plagued by injury problems and the Gunners unlikely to entertain any offer below that figure, City need to find an alternative, and that could take them in the direction of Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph. The 25-year-old has only recently signed a new deal in the West Midlands but that is unlikely to discourage last season's runners-up.

Despite Villa's struggles, Delph has enjoyed a terrific 18 months at the club which resulted in his call-up to the England squad at the start of last season. Since then, Delph has gone on to make six appearances for his country, help Villa retain their Premier League status and skipper the team in their FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal last month.

2. Nathaniel Clyne

With Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna at his disposal, Pellegrini isn't exactly short of options at right-back, but with Zabaleta failing to find his best form last season and Sagna, a new arrival from Arsenal, only making nine appearances in the Premier League, it may be time for the Chilean to freshen up the position.

Given Zabaleta's long-term association with the club and Sagna being on big money in the North-West, encouraging either to depart Manchester may be easier said than done, but if one can be moved out of the door, Southampton full-back Nathaniel Clyne would be the ideal candidate to be introduced to the squad.

The 24-year-old Southampton full-back has been strongly linked with moves to Liverpool and Manchester United, but City may attempt to capitalise on his potential availability with the England man having just 12 months left on his existing deal. He may find opportunities limited in comparison to the chances he would receive at Anfield or Old Trafford, but if required, City could offer him better terms than their rivals.

3. Ross Barkley

Ever since he came onto the scene at Goodison Park, Ross Barkley has been linked with big-money moves to almost all of the giants in the Premier League, but after an inconsistent campaign with Everton last season, interest has seemingly dried up in the 21-year-old who would cost in the region of £30m.

However, if their pursuit of the likes of Wilshere and Delph fall short, City may be forced to test the water with an offer for the England international. After his displays last campaign, Pellegrini may shirk at paying over the odds, but Barkley is an experienced Premier League performer with 77 appearances to his name.

Any potential signing of Barkley may depend on Pellegrini's willingness to employ Yaya Toure in a deeper role, something which is debatable from both a manager and player perspective, but Barkley has been earmarked as one of English football's brightest prospects and the Merseyside-born player may welcome the chance to remain in the North-West.

4. John Stones

One of the main issues surrounding City's failed attempt to defend their Premier League title last season came in central defence where neither Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis nor Eliaquim Mangala performed anywhere near to their best. The fact that the club still finished runners-up is testament to their undoubted quality in the final third, and the purse strings could be loosened to strengthen the weaker part of the team.

With doubts over the central and full-back areas, a move for Everton defender John Stones would appear to tick a lot of boxes. First and foremost, he's English, but he would also bring versatility to the backline as well as adding youth to what has become an ageing squad.

Prising him away from the Toffees may be a challenge, though. He's one of the first names on the teamsheet and he may believe that playing regular football is more beneficial to his development than joining a high-profile club. Everton would take some persuading too, with at least £20m being required to tempt them into a sale.

5. Will Hughes

With many of England's top players settled at their current clubs and the remainder requiring a significant amount of money, City may be forced to look to the England Under-21 and Under-19 squads for potential signings for the future, something that they appear to have done with Fulham's Patrick Roberts.

The reported transfer of Roberts may mean that the acquisitions of further up-and-coming talent may not materialise, but they may benefit from making a move for Derby County's Will Hughes. The 20-year-old has been on the radar of many Premier League clubs since he made his first-team debut in the East Midlands, while Barcelona have been admirers of him in the past.

Hughes still has three years remaining on his existing contract, which would leave the Rams in a strong position should top-flight clubs come calling. However, he appears to be a player who is destined for the Premier League sooner rather than later, and City could steal a march on their rivals with a move this summer.