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Manchester City are expected to sign Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window and could do with pushing for Marc Guehi
What a difference a week makes. Manchester City finished 2025 in style with a big win at Nottingham Forest to stay two points off the top of the Premier League, and with a big incoming to their squad expected to make them even stronger.
They didn't need to sign Antoine Semenyo this month from Bournemouth for £65m - they still don't really given the attacking options they have and how that money could otherwise be used - but this was the time to strike if they wanted him and, with other clubs interested, City felt it was worth making a long-term purchase in January. He will help the squad this season, but the 25-year-old has been chased because he offers value for years.
A run of eight straight victories in all competitions was halted by a frustrating draw at Sunderland, and even more tough to accept was a home draw with Chelsea on Sunday. Even worse than four dropped points was the four injuries that they have suffered in the last four days - including both centre-backs Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.
Suddenly, a City squad that were starting to believe they were strong enough to challenge on all fronts now look vulnerable with nine players out of a small group unavailable for selection. Going off the first-team squad on the club website, City have just 12 available outfield stars to choose from for Wednesday's game.
The most damaging aspect of that is the centre-backs, with Dias, Gvardiol and John Stones all sidelined. Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov finished up as the pairing for Chelsea and will surely start there against Brighton, but they need some help if the first-choice pair are going to be out for any length of time because, as Guardiola said, Ake cannot play every three days.
That is where Marc Guehi comes in. The Crystal Palace captain is out of contract in the summer and City like him enough that they want to be in the conversation to sign him should he be available then.
Like with Semenyo though, there will be other suitors in six months if not now. Liverpool thought they were signing him for this season before Palace dramatically kept hold of the England international, but it isn't like Arne Slot's side are no longer in need of bolstering their back line; top clubs in Europe have also been mooted for the 25-year-old.
City will have to pay considerably more if they want Guehi now rather than in summer, and there are no guarantees that Palace will give up their captain in the middle of the campaign. Given the situation of Guardiola's squad right now though, it has to be worth trying.
Simon is the MEN's Chief Manchester City Writer. He joined the MEN sport desk in 2013 and has covered City home and away since 2016, reporting on Pep Guardiola's time at the club.
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