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Your Manchester City questions answered as our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski delves into the latest on the January window.
There's never a shortage of Manchester City topics to discuss as Pep Guardiola's men look to compete in four competitions this season after the disappointment of last year. We've got every game and press conference covered for you but we also know that there is so much going on around that.
That's why we are starting up regular Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski. The day of the week it comes out on may change depending on what City's schedule looks like but essentially this is your chance to get an answer on anything you want - simply comment on the Q&A article when it comes out or respond to the brand account on social media and Simon will wrap everything up the next morning.
This week we are looking ahead to the January transfer window and beyond, with City alive to a potential move for Antoine Semenyo amid competition from Liverpool and United and also planning for longer. Here are the responses and we will be back with another Q&A next week.
City are in a superb position. But to win any or all of the League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League reinforcements are required. A defender is necessary. via stand17
More of a statement than a question to start, but I like the conviction. It has felt (and been seen) in the last few months that City have an excellent starting XI but a significant drop when key players are rested. That's to be expected to some degree, but when you think of some of the squads who achieved the biggest things under Guardiola the squad was considerably better. Rayan Ait-Nouri needs to challenge Nico O'Reilly when he comes back from AFCON, John Stones need to get fit and stay fit, and Abdukodir Khusanov needs to find the form that he showed earlier in the season against United and Arsenal. All of those will push City closer but are far from certain. As we've reported recently, Marc Guehi is being looked at by City but that is for the summer - and Liverpool could pounce in January.
Thoughts on Ait-Nouri, where do we go with him and how big of a role do you see him playing especially in the title race, charliemcc via website
His signing was seen as terrific when he joined and he looked very good on debut against former club Wolves (yes, a Wolves side that have just two points after 17 games but ask Matheus Nunes how tough it can be to go back to Molineux). He got a bad injury at a bad time and has since been kept out of the team by the force of nature that is O'Reilly. Ait-Nouri has to see that as temporary but he is the older player so he has to make more of his opportunities when he does come into the team. I think his price point means there aren't enormous expectations on him though, and if he can start to play a role in starting some games and coming off the bench in others that will be a valuable first season as he learns under Guardiola.
When exactly is Rodri coming back? Will we sign anyone in the January transfer window? via arif1540 on website
Rodri is coming back whenever everyone feels Rodri is strong enough to come back. After several aborted attempts to return, a more cautious approach has been taken. Guardiola mooted the end of December when he was asked earlier in the month but it's likely a pocket of games has already been found to reintroduce him. When he does come back, it will take time for him to get back to full speed.
Despite that, I'd be surprised to see City strengthen in midfield in January. Antoine Semenyo is an active situation where City are one of multiple top clubs looking to take advantage of a release clause and there are decisions needed on loanees Claudio Echeverri (who will definitely need a new club) and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (who probably does need a new club) but I'm not sure the likes of Elliot Anderson or Adam Wharton are worth adding millions to their fee to try to sign them in January.
I’m curious whether Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis, and Kalvin Phillips are included in Manchester City’s plans. Oscar Bobb has clearly shown potential, but it feels like he may have lost his way due to a run of unfortunate injuries. via LeeTaxxxxx on website.
Yes, the Bobb situation is a real shame. It looked at the beginning of last season like he was going to make a real impact before his leg fracture and he hasn't really shown enough since he did come back. It's been a damaging few months for him with getting hooked at half-time of the Leverkusen defeat, left out of subsequent squads and also criticised by his Norway manager. Something needs to change with Bobb and there may well be interest in offering him a fresh start because, as you say, the potential is there.
Kalvin Phillips hasn't been part of City's planning in ages, barely since his incident of returning overweight around Christmas. Guardiola mentioned an injury when he was asked about him around the Brentford League Cup game but he has to be looking to move if he can. Forest wanted Rico Lewis in the summer but that looks more one to return to in summer - if they still want him after their chief football officer moved to Newcastle.
The centre-backs are mostly older and not quick enough to play Pep's "high line" against swift counter attackers. The only fast one, Khusanov, has not been used in that position. And, while the 3 midfielders (Silva, Gonzalez and Reijnders) have done well, what happens if one of them is injured and Rodri and Kovacic are both still out? I know Pep likes a small squad, but small squad and injuries are not easy bedfellows. I think City need both a centre back and a midfielder if they are to be fighting for silverware in all 4 competitions. via bobmcfan on website
It's a fair shout, although I think if all three of your options for holding midfield get injured you'd be entitled to feel luck wasn't on your side and it was an abnormal situation. Kovacic's certainly has been, even if Guardiola has been warning for some time that Rodri would not be close to his best again until the World Cup.
The injury list has crept up and there are two players away at AFCON who will likely miss another four or five weeks. As I mentioned though, Guehi has been seen as one for the summer if he is still available and - as City have shown - it isn't easy to get good cover for one of the most difficult roles in the team.
To become the force that they once were City definitely need another centre half, Guehi perhaps, and a defensive midfielder like Anderson. Semenyo would be useful but not essential. Stones and Silva will probably leave (and hopefully both Phillips and Kovacic) next summer but with the two signings mentioned City have it covered. In attacking midfield and attack City are well covered. The only player that can't be covered is Haaland as no player of note will come to City just to sit on the bench. His cover will have to come from within the Academy. via mancityboy on website
This question is skipping the rest of this season and going straight to future-planning for next summer, so it can sit at the end. It looks like City need both of those positions and that's why there is interest in Guehi as well as Anderson and Wharton. It will be interesting to see what happens with Omar Marmoush as he has struggled this season after looking so bright last year, so does have more to offer to challenge Haaland or play alongside him. If you're talking about the academy, Divine Mukasa is the one with his foot most in the door and his positional flexibility allows Guardiola to play a false nine with him or Rayan Cherki or Phil Foden
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