Man City
How Man City Could Tackle January: Priorities and Practical Options
City face January choices on right back and holding midfield as they chase Premier League and Champions League glory.
Manchester City’s reaction to an underwhelming 2024–25 campaign produced major activity in last summer’s transfer market. With the 2025/26 season expected to see City contest all four major trophies, with particular focus on the Premier League and Champions League, there are still specific squad areas that merit attention.
A large January overhaul is unlikely. Guardiola prefers a compact squad and City did not pursue a raft of winter signings, yet last season’s hectic January window showed the club is prepared to invest mid-season when necessary. Any moves in January will therefore be surgical rather than sweeping.
Right back remains a clear concern after the sudden decline of Kyle Walker. At present City’s options are Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes and Abdukodir Khusanov, the latter a central defender by trade. Nunes appears to be Guardiola’s preferred option, but he still does not seem entirely comfortable in the role. If City are to return to the summit of English and European football, there is an argument they require an elite-level right back, a profile that is scarce at present.
Tino Livramento was monitored over the summer and was widely touted as a possible solution, but Newcastle United made it clear he was not for sale. The ex-Chelsea star would be an excellent, albeit expensive, addition and his ability to operate at left back adds versatility, though his consistent injury issues would be a concern.
For a younger profile, Sporting CP’s Iván Fresneda and Feyenoord’s Givairo Read represent alternatives who could be tracked closely.
The holding midfield is another area for reinforcement. Rodri’s return at the end of last season and at the FIFA Club World Cup after a nasty ACL injury was a boost, but this term he has been hit by regular setbacks that have limited his appearances in the Premier League and Champions League. Rodri cannot be relied upon to play week in and week out, and Nico González, his replacement, while offering decent defensive protection and a mastery of the tactical foul, provides very little in possession and is not yet at the level of peak Rodri.
Midfield targets mentioned in relation to City include Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. Guardiola has often waxed lyrical about Bruno Guimarães; the Brazil star would be exceptional but would break the bank and be extremely difficult to prise from Newcastle.
Crystal Palace
Palace firm on £40m January price for Marc Guéhi as Manchester City weigh immediate move
Palace want about £40m for Marc Guéhi in January; Man City lead clubs weighing an immediate approach
Crystal Palace are prepared to demand as much as £40 million to sell Marc Guéhi in the January transfer window, with interest coming from several major clubs. Liverpool remain interested, while Barcelona and Real Madrid are listed among admirers. Arsenal have recently joined the queue. Manchester City have reactivated interest and are willing to try to sign Guéhi immediately after a defensive injury crisis that has left Rúben Dias and Joško Gvardiol sidelined.
The Guardian report that a fee of around £40 million would be required for a January exit. Palace face a particular complication in the midseason market: with Guéhi’s contract running closer to expiry and overseas clubs able to speak to him about a free transfer, the Eagles appear prepared to raise their asking price because replacing a central defender in January can be harder and more expensive.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who insisted Guéhi would not be sold during the summer, softened his stance earlier this week by admitting that the England international could leave for the right price in January. It will now be up to City to decide whether to meet that asking price or risk missing out on Guéhi.
City have already taken short-term action by recalling 20-year-old Max Alleyne from his loan spell at Watford in direct response to the absences of Dias and Gvardiol. Alleyne joined a defensive group that currently includes Abdukodir Khusanov and the injury prone Nathan Aké. The trio all started Saturday’s FA Cup third-round match with League One side Exeter City, with 17-year-old Stephen Mfuni named among the substitutes alongside makeshift fullbacks Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes.
Working in Manchester City’s favour is the belief that none of Guéhi’s other suitors are expected to pursue an immediate January bid, although offers for a free transfer to mainland Europe can be arranged ahead of the summer window. Palace’s position is clear: around £40 million is the price to consider if a January sale is to be agreed.
Arsenal
Comparing Arsenal and Man City’s next five Premier League fixtures
Arsenal lead Man City by six points. January fixtures and cup commitments give City the tougher run.
Arsenal and Manchester City sit six points apart at the top of the Premier League after the conclusion of gameweek 21. Arsenal then went into battle 24 hours later, hosting Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, with the opportunity to extend their lead over City at the top of the table. It was a chance they could not take in a big game that lacked quality in the final third.
With Christmas been and gone, this is the stage of the season where it really starts to matter. Neither can afford to give an inch, with City playing catchup, waiting for Arsenal to slip, and the Gunners determined to hold their nerve to land a first league title in 22 years.
Both teams are competing in four different competitions. Following this week’s fixtures, neither is playing again in the league until January 17; each has FA Cup third round and Carabao Cup semi-final first leg commitments to come between now and then. The final two Champions League league phase matches are also interspersed with other competitions in the remainder of January, while Carabao Cup second legs are scheduled for the first week in February, making the calendar particularly congested outside of the Premier League.
Looking strictly at the league fixture list, Manchester City face the tougher run over the next month.
Arsenal fixtures (next five Premier League games)
– Nottingham Forest vs. Arsenal (Jan. 17)
– Arsenal vs. Man Utd (Jan. 25)
– Leeds Utd vs. Arsenal (Jan. 31)
– Arsenal vs. Sunderland (Feb. 7)
– Brentford vs. Arsenal (Feb. 12)
Man City fixtures (next five Premier League games)
– Man Utd vs. Man City (Jan. 17)
– Man City vs. Wolves (Jan. 24)
– Tottenham vs. Man City (Feb. 1)
– Liverpool vs. Man City (Feb. 8)
– Man City vs. Fulham (Feb. 11)
Pep Guardiola must prepare his side for three significant away tests in that sequence: Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium should be a breeze, while Fulham at home is on the more favourable side of the coin, although not easy by any stretch.
Arsenal
Premier League names December 2025 shortlists for Player and Manager of the Month
December 2025 Premier League shortlists: names, stats and contenders for Player and Manager awards .
The Premier League has published the shortlists for December’s Player and Manager of the Month awards.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin led the scoring charts for Leeds United, netting a league-high six goals across five games. His return included strikes in wins over Chelsea and Crystal Palace and helped Leeds record draws with Liverpool, Brentford and Sunderland as the club climbed away from the relegation zone.
Manchester City provide three nominees. Rayan Cherki recorded four assists and a goal while helping City to five victories. Phil Foden contributed four goals and an assist. Erling Haaland, September’s Player of the Month, produced five goals and three assists in December as he bids to become a two-time winner.
Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitiké matched Haaland with five goals, scoring in victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion and registering a brace in a busy draw with Leeds.
Aston Villa have two forwards in contention. Morgan Rogers finished December with four goals while Ollie Watkins reached five during a winning run that extended to 11 games before a defeat to Arsenal.
Fulham winger Harry Wilson enjoyed a strong month, scoring twice against Burnley and Crystal Palace and supplying four assists as the Cottagers emerged as European hopefuls.
On the managerial side, Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta navigated a defensive injury crisis to deliver five wins from six games, extending Arsenal’s lead at the top. Arteta met Aston Villa’s Unai Emery twice in December, with the spoils ultimately shared. Emery’s side also beat Chelsea and Manchester United and recorded a win against Arsenal.
Leeds went undefeated under Daniel Farke during a month that included fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool, where a new formation produced a crucial unbeaten run. Pep Guardiola closed the year with five wins from five as Manchester City finished December in strong form.
The shortlists follow a season that has already seen recent monthly honours awarded to Jack Grealish (Everton) in August, Erling Haaland (Man City) in September, Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd) in October and Igor Thiago (Brentford) in November. Managerial winners this season include Arne Slot, Oliver Glasner, Ruben Amorim and Enzo Maresca.
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