Man City midfielder Rayan Cherki ruled out for two months with thigh injury | OneFootball

Manchester City have been dealt a huge setback on the eve of the transfer window deadline.

According to The Athletic, Man City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that summer signing Rayan Cherki will be sidelined for up to two months due to a thigh injury.

Cherki is considered one of the bargains of the summer after moving to the Etihad Stadium from Olympique Lyon in a deal worth £36 million plus add-ons.

However, he was forced to sit out Sunday’s crushing 2-1 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium after suffering a thigh injury.

After the game, Guardiola confirmed that Cherki will be out for ‘seven or eight weeks’.

To make matters worse for the Cityzens, academy graduate Phil Foden is also sidelined, leaving Guardiola short of attacking options just hours before the transfer deadline.

Man City fans already knew what to expect from Cherki when he joined the club, but he wasted no time making his mark after scoring on his Premier League debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The dazzling Frenchman rounded up a four-goal thrashing at Molineux in a game where fellow summer signing Tijjani Reijnders also got on the score sheet.

Cherki made his full debut for Man City in the 2-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, but wasn’t as effective.

The 22-year-old was expected to replace Kevin De Bruyne as Man City’s primary playmaker and chief creator after his move to Napoli earlier in the summer.

However, his development has now been derailed by injuries, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for Guardiola.

With Foden also sidelined, it is unclear whether Man City will enter the transfer market for another creative midfielder.

Guardiola likes to work with a small squad, but he could be hampered if the Cityzens fail to bring in reinforcements.

Man City have endured a rocky start to the season, winning just one out of three league games.

They’re back in action in two weeks as they host fierce rivals Manchester United in the first Manchester derby of the season.