The reasons Man City moved for Marc Guehi became clear vs Manchester United

Manchester City were well beaten in the Manchester derby as goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu gave the home side the win.

It was a derby day to forget for Manchester City but the prospect of Marc Guehi arriving to strengthen a squad in desperate need of defensive reinforcements does at least mean brighter times could lie ahead. City were well beaten by Manchester United at Old Trafford and their performance offered nothing and deserved nothing.

A victory in midweek at Newcastle United means City have one foot in the Carabao Cup final and a similar outcome in Norway against Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday could secure a top eight Champions League spot. Not that that will offer much comfort to Blues fans in the hours and days after Saturday lunchtime's defeat.

But the capture of Guehi is a show of intent from Pep Guardiola and Hugo Viana and with injuries biting in the backline, it felt imperative that City strengthened in that area this month. The dismal derby day defeat highlighted the difference Guehi could make.

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City again began with Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov at the heart of the defence, with Nathan Ake on the left, and all three suffered nervous starts at Old Trafford.

Alleyne played a straightforward pass which Ake couldn't keep in and the pair repeated the error a few minutes later, before the 20-year-old was caught in possession on the halfway line and almost presented Bryan Mbuemo with a clear run on goal but Gianluigi Donnarumma was quickly off his line.

Alleyne had been faultless in his two cup showings prior to his Premier League debut but a derby away at Old Trafford is a different beast. Alleyne and Khusanov are a rookie and developing pair who may well turn into excellent top-flight performers, but they're not there yet.

Khusanov played a poor pass inside the opening 10 minutes which again required Donnarumma to be alert to sweep up the danger. The Uzbekistan international was sloppy in possession in the opening quarter, miscontrolling on more than one occasion when under no pressure.

But City's defensive options were limited. Nico O'Reilly, who played in midfield at Newcastle in midweek, could have started at left back, as could Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has only recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. That would have seen Ake move inside but with Ruben Dias, John Stones and Josko Gvardiol injured and Matheus Nunes missing through illness at right back, it was a case of needs must.

O'Reilly came on for Alleyne at the break but was booked inside two minutes of his arrival while Lewis was caught napping for Patrick Dorgu to score United's second. Ake struggled time and again with the home side's counter attacking play.

Khusanov grew into the contest and made a couple of telling interceptions and interventions, further underlining the potential the 21-year-old possess. Having impressed at right back early in the campaign before injury intervened, he's shown his credentials in the centre of defence. He's far from the finished article but the early signs are good, as they generally have been with Alleyne across two and a half outings.

Khusanov, Alleyne and Vitor Reis offer City next generation depth, although at least one of that trio is likely to be away on loan next term. Those three might well be part of City's future, but Guehi is for the here and now.

He was no doubt watching events unfold on Saturday ahead of his expected move to the Etihad next week and the 25-year-old will strengthen City's backline for years to come. With Ake and Stones set to depart in the summer, Guehi will join Dias and Gvardiol as centre back options with the latter also capable of playing at left back.

Guehi has been a standout performer in the Premier League and is surely a certain starter for England at the World Cup this summer. The £20million fee is a snip for a player of his calibre while he is a physical presence and also a player calm in possession. Since the opening day of last season, Guehi ranks in the Premier League top 10 for line-breaking passes, duels won and aerial duels won - highlighting his all-round game.

City's all-round game was found wanting at Old Trafford. They've always wanted Guehi.