Manchester City Suffer Major Blows As Dias And Gvardiol Face Extended Spell On Sidelines

‎Manchester City will be without Rúben Dias for up to six weeks after the defender suffered a hamstring injury, deepening Pep Guardiola’s ongoing crisis at centre-back.

‎With options severely limited, the club may be pushed into the transfer market, where Crystal Palace captain Marc Guéhi is among the targets.

‎Both Dias and Josko Gvardiol, the latter sidelined with a broken shinbone, were forced off during Sunday’s draw with Chelsea, leaving City with just 13 fit senior outfield players ahead of Brighton’s visit on Wednesday.

‎In response, academy product Max Alleyne has been recalled from his loan spell at Watford to provide short-term cover.

‎City is contemplating a bid for Guéhi, and a deal for Antoine Semenyo is close after Andoni Iraola said he expected Wednesday’s game against Tottenham to be the forward’s last for Bournemouth.

‎“Khusa [Abdukodir Khusanov] and Nathan [Aké] are back as central defenders. Max came back from the loan. I appreciate what Watford have done for the young lad,” Guardiola said.

‎“The rest, Omar [Marmoush] and Rayan [Aït-Nouri], are at Afcon, and the injuries to John [Stones], to Oscar Bobb.”

‎Gvardiol, who required surgery, is unlikely to play again this season. There is no timeline for a return date for Stones, who has a thigh injury.

‎“With the spirit that we have, we can always cope,” Guardiola said.

‎“Maybe we will get something, but it’s completely different; we are not going to buy four or five players like happened last season.”