Pep Guardiola is keen to address his team’s defensive issues as he demands a new defender ahead of the January window.
According to Fichajes, Manchester City will enter the market for a new defender in January as Pep Guardiola is eager to strengthen his backline. The Premier League giants have suffered from a catastrophic dip in form this season, as the Catalan manager wants reinforcements to address their ongoing issues.
The best football managers have faced adversity in their illustrious careers, but Pep Guardiola’s current plight is unheard of. A solitary win in 13 games in all competitions has deflated an otherwise confident Manchester City side, as they have continued to drop in the standings and standards.
One of the big issues has been the defensive setup, which in part has had its share of injury issues but has regressed overall. Hence, Guardiola wants Manchester City to dip into the market in January to bring in a new defender to shore up the backline for the second half of the season.
A midfielder is also on their agenda, although it appears Guardiola will want a new defender first and foremost. There are few names mentioned in media reports, although the viability of those arriving are in some doubt.
For instance, Manchester City are not likely to land Jarrad Branthwaite in the winter market, although the Everton star could be the subject of an interest next summer. Beyond that, there are no credible names mentioned, although there are links to RC Lens’ Uzbeki defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
Signing a defender is imperative in January
A defender would not solve all of Manchester City’s current issues, but it will certainly help them overcome a few. Guardiola is baffled at his team’s performance when facing the opposition attack, although there have been alarming signs of decline in some of their otherwise formidable players.
The season has continued to unravel on all fronts, as Manchester City are not firmly in a top four race rather than the title. They are also struggling in the Champions League, as an automatic qualification place may seem out of bounds, although they are still expected to make the two-legged playoffs. Hence, some signings are imperative in January, as a defender will certainly help them shore up the backline.
