Hugo Viana sent transfer message by Pep Guardiola after Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias injuries | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has outlined the club’s plans in the January transfer market after Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol suffered injuries against Chelsea.

Gvardiol suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg on Sunday and will undergo surgery later this week, with Dias also hauled off in the second-half of the 1-1 draw with a hamstring injury that will keep him out for four to six weeks.

In light of what is looking like a personnel crisis in defence, City have re-called academy graduate Max Alleyne from loan at Watford as they strengthen their pursuit of England international Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in the coming weeks.

Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov – both of whom came on against Chelsea – are expected to line up in central defence when Brighton visit the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening in a must-win game for Manchester City.

The Blues sit six points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, who face a tricky test against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday as they look to maintain their fine run of recent form and capitalise further on City’s recent slump.

City are expected to announce the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth at the weekend, with reports this week highlighting that the Cherries’ midweek game against Tottenham will be the 25-year-old forward’s last commitment for the south coast club.

Manchester City were initially not expected to be very active in the January transfer market, having revamped their first-team ranks last summer following the appointment of Hugo Viana as director of football.

However, in the backdrop of injuries to each of Guardiola’s first-choice centre halves, the Catalan has given an honest assessment of how Manchester City could progress in the January transfer window.

“Maybe we’ll get something, but it’s completely different (to last season),” Guardiola said in a press conference on Tuesday. “We are not going to buy four or five players like what happened last season. To be the best (highest) net transfer spend in this country, like we are not but apparently always we are.

“I’m really pleased with the squad we had in pre-season and the season right now. We wish Josko (Gvardiol) and Ruben (Dias) come back soon, and John (Stones) as well, the players from Africa can come back and survive that moment and period – go for the next one.”

Manchester City witnessed a similar, though many would argue, worse injury crisis at this stage last term that forced the club’s hand in the 2025 January window to spend over £180 million to bring in Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis.

Guehi would represent a significant boost to Manchester City’s backline as talks progress between executives at the Etihad Stadium and Selhurst Park over the 25-year-old, who will be leaving Crystal Palace at the end of the season.