Pep Guardiola acknowledges Manchester City’s need for defensive reinforcements this January
He even praised Nathan Ake for stepping up when he wasn’t fully fit. That’s how desperate things have gotten. With all four senior center-backs out at one point, City hit a rough patch. Ruben Dias and John Stones are still sidelined, which doesn’t help.
In the January transfer window, City has already made some moves. They’ve agreed to a £33.5 million deal for Abdukodir Khusanov from Lens and are chatting with Palmeiras about Vitor Reis. But neither of these guys is expected to jump straight into the starting lineup. Plus, Kyle Walker might be on his way out after putting in a transfer request.
Guardiola still believes in his squad but admits they need to look outside for help. He mentioned that Rodri’s return isn’t happening, but he hoped to have everyone else back. If that had happened, they might not be in the transfer market right now.
He pointed out that it’s not just Rodri causing issues; the back four has been a problem all season. While the attack seems fine, the defense has been a real struggle. So, the club is weighing their options for this window and possibly the summer too.
