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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola(Image: Oli SCARFF \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\nMan City boss Pep Guardiola is having to cope with a centre-back injury crisis with the January transfer window now openManchester City boss Pep Guardiola(Image: Oli SCARFF \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola has hinted Manchester City may not pursue a move for Liverpool target Marc Guehi this month despite a growing defensive injury crisis at the Etihad. City are counting the cost of Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea with centre-back duo Joskvo Gvardiol and Ruben Dias joining John Stones<\/a> on the sidelines.<\/p>\n Gvardiol is expected to be out for several months with a broken shin while Dias is likely to be absent for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n It leaves Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov as City’s only available senior centre-backs, with 20-year-old Max Alleyne having this week been recalled from his loan at Championship side Watford as cover.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Liverpool recall another player from loan spell after injury setback<\/a>READ MORE: Florian Wirtz is taking on central Liverpool role – but next challenge is now clear<\/a><\/p>\n City splashed out \u00a3180million on players during last year’s January transfer window and are close to agreeing a \u00a365m move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo this time around.<\/p>\n But despite reports City are considering a move for Guehi – who Liverpool<\/a> almost signed for \u00a335m on deadline day in September before Crystal Palace pulled the plug on the deal – Guardiola is adamant there won’t be a repeat of the splurge of 12 months previous.<\/p>\n “Maybe we will get something but it’s completely different (to last year),” said the City boss, speaking on Tuesday.<\/p>\n “We are not going to buy four or five players like happened last season to be the (highest) net spend in this country. We are not, but apparently always we are.”<\/p>\n Liverpool still want to sign Guehi but are concentrating their efforts on persuading the player to move when his contract expires at the end of the season.<\/p>\n But while the expectation has long been that Guehi would see out the campaign at Palace, any serious interest from City could see the landscape change.<\/p>\n