Injuries and instability: Inside Manchester City's defensive crisis.

Manchester City currently are in the midst of a season changing period with injuries hitting their backline thick and fast Pep Guardiola and the recruitment staff need to conjure a plan to keep City’s title hopes alive as Arsenal begin to run away with it.

Before Saturdays clash with Chelsea, Manchester City had just John Stones unavailable in centre back with a thigh injury, his last game being included in a City squad this season was the 2nd of December in the emphatic 4-5 victory away at Craven cottage in which he was substituted onto the pitch in the 64th minute. This had City in a fairly comfortable position with 4 senior centre backs being available Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov. Then the 51st minute hit against Chelsea and the crisis began. Josko Gvardiol had a slight collision with Malo Gusto and had to be withdrawn with an injury which was later confirmed to be a tibial fracture in his right leg with most cases ranging in recovery time from 4-6 months. This makes Josko unavailable for the rest of the season for City and a huge doubt for the world cup. Then in the 81st minute Ruben Dias came off for Nathan Ake after pulling up with a hamstring injury. And Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will be out for up to six weeks.

This has left Manchester City extremely light in defence with now only 2 senior centre backs being fit. City have already recalled Max Alleyne from his promising loan spell at Watford to help the current circumstances and wether he returns to Watford if City can sign some cover in defence this January is yet to be seen. Alleyne is a promising 20 year old right footed centre back who is also very comfortable on his left. Alleyne is 185cm tall (6ft) and excelled in Watfords 7 game unbeaten streak and particularly in his most recent game against Birmingham in which Watford won 3-0 and Alleyne won 2 out of his attempted 3 tackles, made 8 clearances, 4 recoveries, won 3 out of his 3 ground duels, 1 out of his attempted 1 aerial duels and wasn’t dribbled past. However if he wants to become a mainstay in City’s squad this season he will need to improve his on the ball progression and retention.

Reports in the past 24 hours have pointed all attention of Manchester City fans straight to Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi who narrowly missed out on a move to £35 million pound move to Liverpool on deadline day with Palace chairman Steve Parish pulling the plug on the deal. City however, are reportedly looking at prizing Guehi away from Palace this January who only has 6 months remaining on his deal. According to the reliable Fabrizio Romano, City have made an initial approach to Palace with Liverpool and Bayern Munich both retaining an interest. This deal will not be easy to complete though as Ben Jacobs has reported that any deal for Guehi in January will cost more than the £35 million pound package put on the table from Liverpool on deadline day. Wether City would be willing to go that high for a player who they could sign on a free transfer in 6 months time remains to be seen with Guehi also potentially preferring a summer move for a lucrative signing bonus and more clubs to choose from.

Manchester City are currently sat second in the premier league table on 42 points 6 behind league leaders Arsenal. In City’s last 2 games they have dropped 4 points with a 0-0 draw to high flying Sunderland and 1-1 to a Chelsea side coached by an inexperienced senior coach Calum Mcfarlane the Chelsea Under 19s manager who had to have his building pass changed so he could actually enter the Chelsea mens training ground after the club parted ways with Enzo Maresca. City’s next fixture is a home game against Brighton who sit in 10th on 28 points on Wednesday the 7th of January which they will go into with only Nathan Ake, Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne. But Man City do have positive injury news elsewhere with Nico Gonzalez being back available for selection.

This lack of centre back availability has sparked online outrage within the City fanbase who are urging the club to sign a central defender. Options i think City should look at include Nico Schlotterbeck the 26 year old defender who plays for Borussia Dortmund a team City have a fantastic relationship with is one of the best on the ball centre backs in the world and would fit Pep Guardiolas system like a glove. The 26 year old is currently stalling in contract talks and would likely need an offer of over £50 million pounds to get him away from Signal Iduna Park. Another Fantastic option is Brightons Jan Paul Van Hecke similarly to Schlotterbeck the Dutch defender is one of the most progressive defenders in the premier league and at age 25 would be perfect for the now and the later. However, Van Hecke is Brightons most effective progressor and a deal in January will be very difficult.