Manager Josep Guardiola has said Manchester City could see more action in January due to injury after confirming centre-back Ruben Dias will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a hamstring problem.
City are also missing another centre-back, with Josko Gvardiol due to undergo surgery after breaking his foot in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol leaves the pitch after injury, assisted by Chelsea’s Reece James
Sky Sports News understands that there have been discussions at City over their impromptu summer plans to sign the defender in January, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi potentially in contention.
Any move to sign the defender comes after Sky Sports News reported that Antoine Semenyo is set to undergo a medical at City on Thursday ahead of his £65m move from Bournemouth.
Guardiola has said he will not repeat last January’s £176m spending spree, but has not ruled out adding reinforcements to his squad to deal with the growing injury problem.
Asked if City would be big again in January due to injuries to defenders, he said: “No, we might get something, but it’s completely different. We’re not going to bring in four or five players like we did last season.”
Regarding Dias’ injury, Guardiola said: “Hamstring. Four to six weeks.”
Manchester City’s Ruben Dias injured his hamstring in the 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
Guardiola said City have already recalled young centre-back Max Alleyne from Watford as extra cover as John Stones is “not ready for the next game”.
The City manager currently only uses Nathan Ake, Abdukkodir Kusanov and 20-year-old Alleyne as centre-backs. Alleyne is yet to feature in a top-flight game for City.
City play Brighton at home in the Premier League tomorrow, before facing Exeter City in the FA Cup third round.
Wednesday, January 7th 6pm
7:30pm kickoff
Could defensive problems cost Man City the title?
Laura Hunter on Sky Sports:
Manager Josep Guardiola has found a standard in his final line this season, starting the same defensive four in 12 of the last 20 games. Of those 12 games, 10 ended in wins, with the only defeat being a 2-1 loss to Newcastle.
In Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias, City have two athletic centre-backs who are able to provide the perfect balance between the left and right flanks.
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But here comes the problem. City’s stability will depend on the fit and availability of Dias and Gvardiol, flanked by Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunez. That’s not the case now.
Dias and Gvardiol limped out of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, leaving Guardiola’s side considerably weaker and more vulnerable. They conceded a goal and then scored the equalizer late on.
Gary Neville said on his podcast that City’s makeshift back four could cost them the title: “When I look at that City back four, that’s what worries me. That’s not how you win titles.”
With Dias out for up to six weeks, Gvardiol sidelined for the foreseeable future and John Stones also sidelined, City are feeling light on the BACL.
This is a big problem as Guardiola has a huge hole to fill and he will play seven games in four different competitions in January alone.
