Manchester City are lacking numbers in central defence and that is no secret.
20.03.2020 - 18:01 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
It’s clear for all to see where Manchester City have lost ground on Liverpool this season.
Pep Guardiola’s men could yet win the Champions League, the competition owner Sheikh Mansour craves most.
But hopes of a third straight Premier League title slipped away when star defender Aymeric Laporte suffered a serious knee injury in the 4-0 win over Brighton in August.
City didn’t replace Vincent Kompany and losing Laporte, who was Guardiola’s most used centre-back last season, was too big a blow
Manchester City are lacking numbers in central defence and that is no secret.
FIFA has announced big changes to the football calendar by pushing back the dates of the transfer window and has also approved plans to extend player contracts.
After Manchester City decided against offering former club captain Vincent Kompany a new contract at the end of last season, it was expected that the club would dive into the transfer market and replace the Belgian.
When Odion Ighalo joined Manchester United on loan in January from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, there were no great expectations placed on the striker.
With each passing week in the 2019-20 Premier League season, Manchester City’s need for reinforcements at left-back has become ever more evident.
Manchester City's season is not over yet.
Manchester City’s exploits in 2019/20 have made it clear reinforcements at centre-back are a priority for Pep Guardiola.
The act of signing players is fraught with pitfalls. What can seem like a great deal in the moment can quickly turn sour. Whether it’s a player not settling, the team not able to accommodate them, clubs up and down the football pyramid struggle to get every deal right, and Manchester City are no different.
Aymeric Laporte said he is 'very happy' at Manchester City despite the possibility of the club being banned from the Champions League for the next two seasons.
Manchester City could ask Uefa for a delay to their European ban if the coronavirus crisis interferes with their appeal against it.