Manchester City continue to be in the market for defenders ahead of the January transfer window, despite Pep Guardiola insisting that there will be no movement at the Etihad this winter.
The Cityzens currently sit eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, though they have a game in hand over the Gunners, and can cut that deficit with a win over Leeds United, leapfrogging Newcastle United back into second place in the process.
But, as per the Athletic, work still needs to be done on the squad, especially at full-back. Kyle Walker has missed a large part of the season through injury, leaving Manuel Akanji or John Stones to deputise at right back.
Meanwhile on the opposite flank, the outlet claim that summer signing Sergio Gomez ‘is not fully trusted to start in a lot of games yet’, which leaves Pep Guardiola with limited options on the opposite flank.
Sergio Gomez of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Sevilla FC and Manchester City played at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadum on Sep 6, 2022 in Sevilla, Spain. (Photo by Antonio Pozo / PRESSIN) 2JXEGFE Sergio Gomez of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Sevilla FC and Manchester City played at Sanchez Pizjuan Stadum on Sep 6, 2022 in Sevilla, Spain. (Photo by Antonio Pozo / PRESSIN) (Alamy Stock Photo)
And, the Athletic add, full-back remain on the radar, with Rayan Ait-Nouri of Wolves and Borussia Dortmund’s Raphael Guerrero among those linked.
However, Pep Guardiola has remained adamant that there will be little by way of change to his squad mid-season, as they look to overturn the deficit to his former assistant manager Mikel Arteta and win their fifth Premier League title in six years.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen but since I arrived from Abu Dhabi, with Txiki Begiristain and everyone, there wasn’t any name on the table”
The Cityzens are also thought to be in the market for a midfielder, with Ilkay Gundogan out of contract this summer, and are among the admirers of Benfica’s World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez.