Manchester City are linked with a shock move in the January transfer window | OneFootball

Currently, it appears unlikely that Manchester City will sign a right-back before the transfer window closes. If that proves to be the case, then Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes will share duties in the position. Each player brings different strengths to the role. Rico Lewis shines when he inverts into midfield. Matheus Nunes provides an overlapping attacking threat when he plays at right-back. It remains to be seen if Lewis and Matheus Nunes will be enough to cover the right-back position for Pep Guardiola’s side.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Manchester City move for a right-back in the January transfer window, especially if Lewis and Nunes don’t do an adequate job in the role. A new report has linked City with a shock move for Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold during the January transfer window. A lot has to transpire before that particular move becomes a realistic possibility. But it is food for thought if nothing else.

Manchester City are reportedly monitoring Trent Alexander-Arnold’s situation at Real Madrid.

Indy Kaila has reported for CaughtOffside, that Manchester City are keeping a close eye on the situation surrounding Trent Alexander-Arnold at Real Madrid. It is also included in the CaughtOffside report that Trent Alexander-Arnold faces a fight to be Real Madrid’s first choice at right-back. The imminent return of Dani Carvajal from a serious knee injury will provide competition for the right-back role in Xabi Alonso’s side. Lastly, Indy Kaila reports that Manchester City could move in January for Trent Alexander-Arnold if he isn’t Real Madrid’s first-choice right-back by then.

It would be a significant surprise if Trent Alexander-Arnold were available during the January transfer window.

It is hard to give the January transfer window much thought at this time. Manchester City appear to have a busy time ahead of them as they bid to trim the size of Pep Guardiola’s squad. There is also the potential that City could sign a player or two before the summer transfer window closes. The January transfer window does seem a long way away right now. Manchester City could be in the market for players in January. That depends on a host of factors. How Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes fare at right-back may be one. The injury status of Pep Guardiola’s squad is another. How players perform until January is yet another. There is also the realistic possibility that City don’t need to make any moves in January that needs to be considered.

But looking at the possibility of Trent Alexander-Arnold signing for Manchester City, that seems to be remote. Real Madrid courted the England international for some time before signing him this summer when his contract expired at Liverpool. It is hard to see them giving up on Alexander-Arnold after only a few monthsat the club. Trent Alexander-Arnold may be a player that Manchester City admire, but signing him in January is a different story entirely.

The transfer market does throw up curveballs all the time. History shows us that. But Manchester City signing Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid, six months after they signed him, would be a huge curveball. You can never say never in football, but it would be a significant surprise if Trent Alexander-Arnold became a City player in a few months time.