Manchester City, who have struggled to find their form this season, are in need of significant inspiration to catch up to Liverpool in the Premier League title race. Reports suggest Pep Guardiola is looking to the January transfer market to spark a revival.
At the start of the season, the title race was wide open, with Manchester City, the reigning champions for four of the last five years, expected to be strong contenders. Arsenal, their closest challengers last season, and Liverpool, under new leadership, were also in the mix. However, Liverpool have surged to the top of the table, with Chelsea, also led by a new manager, and Arsenal not far behind. In contrast, Manchester City’s form has nosedived, managing just one win in their last six league games and only 10 across all competitions. This slump has put them at risk of falling out of the title race entirely.
Key setbacks have contributed to their struggles, including a 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield and the long-term absence of Rodri due to an ACL injury, leaving the team without a natural replacement in holding midfield. Additionally, veteran players like Kyle Walker and Ederson have underperformed, failing to maintain their usual standards.
Currently, Liverpool hold a nine-point advantage over City, with both teams having played 15 matches. In response, Guardiola is reportedly planning reinforcements to narrow the gap. According to The Mirror, the manager could be allocated a £200 million budget for the January transfer window to strengthen his squad and revive their silverware ambitions.
The report highlights interest in Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, a player Guardiola previously signed and worked with during his tenure at the German club. With Kimmich’s contract set to expire next summer, he could be available for as little as £10 million. City are also linked to other midfield targets, including Bruno Guimaraes of Newcastle United, as Eddie Howe recently acknowledged Newcastle may need to sell players to meet Profit and Sustainability Rules. Another option is Martin Zubimendi, though the Real Sociedad midfielder reportedly rejected Liverpool in the summer and may do the same with City.
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