Pep Guardiola paves way for Guehi transfer by ending another star’s Man City career

Robin Bairner

7 Jan 2026 11:29 GMT
2 min read

Pep Guardiola, Man City, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has paved the way for Marc Guehi to sign this month by effectively ending the Etihad career of another player contracted to the club.

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City have been rocked by injury issues in the heart of their defence. Josko Gvardiol’s season has been ended by a leg fracture while Ruben Dias faces at least six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. With John Stones also ailing, City’s only senior options in this area are Kodir Khusanov and Nathan Ake.

Down to the bare bones, the possibility of recalling Manuel Akanji from his loan spell at Inter Milan had been mooted, yet Guardiola shut down that possibility while speaking to the media. Instead, City opted to recall Max Alleyne from his loan at Watford.

In taking this decision, Guardiola effectively ends the City career of the 30-year-old, who still has 18 months left to run on his contract with the Etihad club.

Current ETV

Marc Guéhi

D (CL)

C. Palace

Marc Guéhi

D (CL)

C. Palace

ETV Range

€43.6M - €53.2M

Guardiola keeps door to Guehi deal open

Man City hit the headlines when they spent big last January after a terrible first half to the season and they are set to announce their first signing of 2026 imminently. Antoine Semenyo is close to arriving at the club from Bournemouth in a deal worth an estimated €75 million (£65m).

Guardiola has been publicly reticent to commit to several arrivals, the lack of experienced options in the heart of the defence is likely to hasten a move for Crystal Palace star Guehi - a deal FootballTransfers can confirm talks have been taking place over.

And it was not a possibility that he ruled out.

“Maybe we will get something in the January transfer window but it’s completely different. We’re not going to buy four or five players like what happened last season,” Guardiola said, leaving the possibility of a move for Guehi open.

Out of contract at the end of the season, the England international has attracted interest primarily from Liverpool, who came close to signing him in the summer. It has since emerged that he is closest to City.