Manchester City finally returned to winning ways last night with a 3-nil win over Nottingham Forest at the Etihad. There were plenty of positives for Pep Guardiola and his team to take from last night’s match. They picked up a precious three points, and the performances of Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne stood out.
But there were also fresh injury concerns for Manchester City to deal with coming out of last night’s match. Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji picked up injuries during City’s win. In light of that news, it appears that City may have another area of their squad to bolster during next month’s transfer window.
The injuries to Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji are a blow to Manchester City. Add their injuries to the fact that John Stones is currently out injured, and all of a sudden, the world champions are desperately short of centre-backs once again. As it stands Ruben Dias is City’s only fully fit centre-back. Josko Gvardiol can step into the role and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has played for the world champions this season. Kyle Walker could also play there if needed. But Pep Guardiola is now short of options in a crucial position.
The January transfer window opens next month. Manchester City’s need to bolster their midfield stands out. But now it appears that signing a centre-back would massively benefit the world champions. Ake, Stones and Akanji will return from their injuries but they have battled injury issues all season. Bringing in another defender will lighten their workload and ease the pressure on the trio. Manchester City need them fit but they also need them to have time to recover from their injury issues. Adding another centre-back will alleviate those issues and add another option for Pep Guardiola.
The case is now mounting for Manchester City to add another centre-back. It looks to be a priority for them to address based on the injury record of Ake, Stones and Akanji this season. Whether or not they do that next month remains to be seen. But based on last night’s event it isn’t an issue the champions can gloss over.
Gvardiol is a CB playing as a LB because of the surplus of established CB in the squad. (Stones, Akanji, Dias, Ake) As you state, Walker can play there, though this is far from ideal, Simpson-Pusey is a natural, did well, and would benefit from more opportunities
Another incomer would need time to settle and by then the at least two of the three injured players will probably be fit and itching to play.
There are much greater needs than another CB and most of the rebuild, if not all of it, will take place next summer in well researched and thought out moves into the market place.