Manchester City monitoring Chelsea target as Hugo Viana plans for John Stones and Nathan Ake exits | OneFootball

Manchester City are keeping close tabs on Atalanta and Nigeria defender Honest Ahanor as the club outline plans for the summer of 2026, as per a new report.

The Blues are in the middle of a finely-poised Premier League title race with league leaders Arsenal, who are vying for their first league crown in 21 years and hold a two-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s side ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.

City have recovered from a sluggish start to the season and clawed their way back into the conversation for the title, having also taken a giant step towards the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 last week after coming from behind to beat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Guardiola and co have gone from strength to strength since September and entered the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening as goals from Rayan Cherki and Savinho helped them claim a 2-0 quarter-final win over Keith Andrews and Brentford at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City are expected to be somewhat active in the 2026 January transfer window as director of football Hugo Viana analyses loopholes in the existing first-team squad that can be plugged next month to offer Guardiola greater ammunition for the second half of the current season.

Viana introduced seven new names to the Manchester City senior squad upon him placing long-serving executive Txiki Begiristain in the summer, having signed off on the departures of Kevin De Bruyne, Scott Carson, Kyle Walker, James McAtee, Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan and season-long loans for Manuel Akanji and Jack Grealish.

City hold a strong interest in Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo, who will be available for £65 million next month and could add a much-needed attacking threat to a Blues frontline overly reliant on Erling Haaland to provide the goods week-in, week-out.

Guardiola has historically refrained from altering his group mid-season but City are in a strong position as the New Year approaches to go on and compete for silverware on multiple fronts – and the Catalan will not mind a signing or two to give a new-look dressing room a greater lift as the season progresses.

TeamTalk are reporting that Manchester City are closely monitoring Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor, who is also attracting interest from Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, RB Leipzig and other elite clubs in Europe.

The 17-year-old’s stock has risen in recent months following a stunning start to the season in Bergamo and Manchester City’s interest likely to stem from the Nigerian’s ability to operate in a string of defensive and wide positions.

John Stones and Nathan Ake face uncertain futures at the Etihad Stadium and with the former out of contract at Manchester City next summer, Viana will be shortlisting capable replacements for one of Guardiola’s most loyal and long-serving confidantes. Ahanor can move to England next summer as he turns 18 in February.

Ake could leave City in January for regular playing time to stake a strong claim for Netherlands ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol forging a resolute partnership in central defence for a Manchester City side still considering far too many goals for a side competing for silverware.