Entering the winter transfer window, Manchester City—once considered a squad with abundant depth—suddenly faces a squad crisis. This comes as Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol are injured, with the latter expected to be sidelined for months. CamelLive summarized City’s transfer dynamics.
What’s Happened in the Past Week
Manchester City is actively pushing to sign Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. The transfer is expected to be completed after Bournemouth’s match against Tottenham Hotspur. A major boost for City is that the Etihad Stadium is Semenyo’s preferred destination.
Due to injuries to defenders Gvardiol and Dias, City has recalled Max Alleyne, who was on loan at Watford, to strengthen the defensive lineup. Meanwhile, Argentine forward Claudio Echeverri is set to join Girona on loan after an unsuccessful six-month spell at Bayer Leverkusen.
Semenyo’s Expected Role
Semenyo will bring versatility to Pep Guardiola’s front line as he can play on both flanks. On the left, he can rotate with Jeremy Doku; on the right, his finishing ability is more impressive than what Savinho or Oscar Bobb have shown so far.
Positions and Players City Is Targeting
Semenyo is City’s primary target, but the club currently has nine players sidelined, leading to a shortage in defense. Aarons’ return adds another option alongside Abdukodir Khusanov and Nathan Aké, but Gvardiol’s long-term injury has weakened the team. Additionally, Dias’ return date remains unclear.
John Stones is sidelined by injury, while Manuel Akanji is on loan at Inter Milan with no recall clause. Young players are also unlikely to be recalled. According to journalists, City is highly interested in Marc Guéhi and is considering whether to push for the deal this month.
Players Likely to Leave
Oscar Bobb is also seeking more playing time and may depart. Borussia Dortmund is very interested in Bobb and has held initial discussions over a loan, but there has been no substantive progress or signs of the deal advancing further.
Barcelona’s sports department is fond of Nathan Aké, but City is unlikely to agree to a loan exit before the end of the season without the possibility of a permanent sale. This prospect has become even slimmer given Gvardiol and Dias’ injuries.
