Manchester City’s transfer stance on out-of-favour forward revealed ahead of January window | OneFootball

Executives at the Etihad Stadium are mapping the club’s long-term transfer strategies ahead of the January 2026 window, as per a new report.

Hugo Viana announced his appointment as City’s director of football this summer by signing off on the exits of several senior stars beyond their respective prime(s), with the Blues adding seven new stars to Pep Guardiola’s ranks in the backdrop of a trophyless 2024-25 season.

City made a sluggish start to the 2025-26 season but have turned a corner in recent months as they look set to fight Arsenal tooth and nail in the title race, being in touching distance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 and having registered a place in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

The jury remains out on whether a new-look Manchester City side can defy doubters and finish a transitional season with silverware, with the likes of Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland flying in attack for Guardiola, who has recently rubbished talk of leaving the club at the end of the current campaign.

City are expected to complete a deal for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo in the coming days, having beaten the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea to the marquee signature of the 25-year-old Ghana international.

Viana is expected to plug further loopholes in the current first-team ranks to arm Guardiola with greater ammunition as Manchester City contest for silverware on several fronts in the second half of the season.

Oscar Bobb, Nathan Ake and Stefan Ortega Moreno are amongst those who could be allowed to leave Manchester City in January, with the trio keen on playing regularly and staking a claim for their respective nations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Meanwhile, Manchester City will be looking to keep hold of some bit-part players who have not played regularly of late but could come in handy as the season progresses, despite Guardiola’s long-held preference of working with a tight-knit squad.

As reported by Sky Sports News, Manchester City are eyeing reinforcements in midfield to support £46 million summer signing Tijjani Reijnders, while the search for a new right-back has cooled ahead of January owing to Matheus Nunes’ outstanding performances in the position this season.

Moreover, the club are keen on keeping hold of Omar Marmoush, who is currently representing Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations and has struggled to get a consistent look into the starting XI in recent months, despite beginning the campaign as Guardiola’s preferred left-winger.

Marmoush has been linked with a potential exit in the January window, when competition for places will strengthen should Semenyo put pen to paper and make the move to the north-west from the south coast – following talks held by Manchester City with Bournemouth and the forward’s camp in recent days.

Savinho has also attracted interest from Tottenham ahead of January and after a summer move to north London broke down for the 21-year-old, Manchester City remain keen on retaining the talented winger in their ranks for the rest of the season.