Manchester City Pursues Defensive Reinforcements Amid Injury Crisis

omidbasir- Manchester City remains in pursuit of another domestic title, closely trailing Arsenal, but currently finds itself six points behind the leaders and tied for points with an impressive Aston Villa.

Pep Guardiola had anticipated a morale-boosting victory against Chelsea; however, a dramatic equalizer in the dying moments of the match resulted in a 1-1 draw. Tijjani Reijnders put City ahead in a commanding first half, but Enzo Fernandez leveled for the visiting side in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

By the time Chelsea scored, City was already struggling defensively due to injuries. Josko Gvardiol had to exit the match six minutes into the second half, while Portuguese center-back Ruben Dias also left the field later on. With John Stones sidelined and Nathan Ake’s playing time being cautiously managed, Guardiola expressed his concerns about their defensive depth: “We have a lot of injuries. John Stones is missing for an unknown duration. Ruben will now be out, and Josko will be out. With Nathan, we know he cannot play regularly. This is our situation.”

“We must stay strong and find solutions. The team spirit remains intact, but I do have concerns. Have you seen our bench today? We had four academy players, and we will likely have more in the future. We are short on options.”

In light of this situation, City is reportedly turning its focus to the transfer market. According to BBC Sport, England international Marc Guehi has emerged as a potential target for Guardiola.

City will await medical updates on Dias and Gvardiol before deciding whether to proceed with formal interest in Guehi. It has been suggested that a move for the 25-year-old should not be ruled out, as the club aims to reinforce its squad in key positions.

Alongside their Premier League ambitions, City is also competing in the Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup, with seven matches scheduled in January across these competitions.

Acquiring Guehi would not only provide immediate depth but also serve as a long-term defensive option. Currently running down his contract at Crystal Palace, Guehi previously came close to a transfer to Liverpool for £35 million in the summer of 2025, a deal that fell through just before the deadline. His list of admirers now includes Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Atletico Madrid.

As he enters the final six months of his contract, Guehi is eligible to agree on pre-contract terms with clubs outside England. However, any Premier League team looking to secure him now would need to pay a transfer fee. Reports indicate that Crystal Palace may be open to offers, preferring not to lose a valuable asset for free at the end of the season. City appears willing to engage in discussions for a player they initially eyed for a free transfer in the summer.

Meanwhile, City is keeping its options open, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano suggesting that this could include recalling Max Alleyne from his loan at Watford. The 20-year-old defender has made 20 appearances for the Championship side this season, displaying match readiness, and Guardiola is considering integrating him into the first team, potentially allowing for his senior debut in 2026.