Manchester City in the January transfer window: Pep Guardiola unlikely to strengthen despite recent struggles

Issues surrounding City’s squad depth in certain areas have been illustrated by injuries to first team players Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy

Given the nature of Thursday’s crucial showdown with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, Manchester City may already feel they are out of the title race by the time the January transfer window gets into full swing. Pep Guardiola already has a squad packed with talent at his disposal, yet given City’s recent vulnerabilities, might he tempted to strengthen over the coming weeks in order to make every effort to defend the title?

Issues surrounding City’s squad depth in certain areas have been illustrated by injuries to first team players Fernandinho and Benjamin Mendy. To address the problem at left-back, City are reported to be interested in bringing in Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell, but the Foxes are determined to keep the England international, meaning Fabian Delph and Oleksandr Zinchenko will continue to fill the void in Mendy’s absence.

City might also look to add some more depth in the defensive midfield area with the side clearly struggling without Fernandinho. The Brazilian missed three games through injury, a period in which City were only able to pick up one point. City are known to be interested in the supremely talented young Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong, although a summer move appears more likely.

It has also been reported that Pep is interested in making a signing in January to provide adequate cover for goalkeeper Ederson, with Claudio Bravo currently out injured, but the reality is that City are unlikely to do much business this month: Guardiola must find a way to rouse his current squad from their brief slump if they are to hunt down Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.