Manchester City are preparing a January transfer raid to save their campaign

Manchester City are considering softening their position in the January transfer window to bolster their faltering bid for a fifth straight Premier League title, with Brazil international Ederson of Atalanta one of the players being considered.

City find themselves in a curious position. By your high standards three defeats in a row represents a decline of unprecedented proportions, but it appears that the rise can be mitigated. There will be no pressing the panic button even if the winless streak extends into the fourth match, which is quite possible given Saturday’s opponents Fabian Hurtzeler effervescent Brighton, unbeatable at the Amex.

The “challenge” was that Pep Guardiola called on Tuesday evening. Bernardo Silva went further, suggesting City are in a “dark place” as they struggle to cope with a growing list of injuries and loss of form for some of their most reliable players.

This is why the club is increasingly open to accelerating existing transfer targets or accelerating some succession plans in order to support some of the club’s most important players.

It is clear that City had both the financial capacity and the desire to do more both in the summer window and now – with Rodri has been sidelined this season. – They may also have Guardiola’s consent.

The Catalan famously prefers to play with a small squad, believing that having disgruntled players undermines the high standards he sets for his stars. But injuries and grueling schedule City’s players’ season ahead – they will finish the season in the US at the inaugural Club World Cup in June – means it may be time for a rethink.

Sources in Italy suggest Ederson, a player with the ability to break up a game like Rodri, something City have been missing out on lately, would be open to a move if a fee could be agreed.

More pressing issues need to be addressed at Etihad. Their vulnerability to counterattacks is what Ruben Amorim Sporting Lisbon’s use of midweek is a concern, while Erling Haaland suddenly looks isolated in City’s attack, making fewer shots than at the start of the season.

“It sounds strange when we lost three games in a row, but what’s amazing about City under Pep Guardiola is that in certain circumstances it becomes a weakness,” says Ahsan Naeem, host of the popular City podcast. 93:20.

“And you wouldn’t trade any of those supposed decisions – a bigger team, a different midfield composition – for Pep’s coaching.”

As a message about keeping the faith, it is quite compelling. City have been able to dominate English football under Guardiola in part because of the way he has been able to adapt his team to the challenge of improving title rivals, but also because of the natural evolution of a team that has been able to accept the loss of some of its players. the most important players.

However, they may have never faced problems like Rodri’s season-ending injury. Losing key players in the summer, when there is time to plan, is one thing. Injury mid-season for current Ballon d’Or winner a very different matter, and one that left them scrambling to find a new balance in the engine room.

“(Mateo) Kovacic, Bernardo (Silva), Ilkay Gundogan – they are not the most mobile and what we saw against Spurs, against Bournemouth and against Sporting is that if you run straight at City players and have the athleticism, pace and physicality, you can get into very good goal scoring positions very quickly and that is probably where Rodri is missing the most because we miss his dynamism,” says Naaeem.

“Essentially we are missing our safety blanket, and without the safety blanket there may be some shortage of young guys. It’s not about one player, it’s about the overall composition and performance of the midfield right now.”

Others City have approached in the past are also struggling. Phil Foden’s midweek goal was a rare decisive achievement in recent times. Kevin De Bruyne’s form has been changing.

In addition, there are external factors that threaten to make 2025 the most difficult year in the club’s modern history. Guardiola’s future remains uncertain, although it should be stressed that those close to the situation believe it is unlikely to impact City’s attention and a sense of “business as usual” remains at the club.

There is, of course, no pressure on him to make a decision, since The I Paper said there was a prevailing feeling at City that he had “earned the right” to make the call in his own time. Some suggest a solution will come sooner rather than later.

The same can be said about ongoing off-field issues, including a legal battle over 115 violations of financial fair play. This has been going on for two years now: most club members are now as eager for a solution to the problem as their rivals.

Perhaps, paradoxically, a small part of Guardiola will be grateful for the dip in form and the shattering of his perception of invincibility. Famously, in January 2023 he felt the need to rebuke the fans and his players for being the “lucky flowers”, implicitly criticizing their lack of fight. He firmly believes that pressure brings out the best in a group.

“He loves to solve problems and have problems to solve, and right now he needs to solve some of them. I think we can make the most of it under these circumstances,” says Naaeem.

“If I were Liverpool or Arsenal fan right now, part of me would be scared. City are at their most dangerous when something like the last seven days happens. I remember the defeat to Aston Villa in December 2023 – it was the last defeat in the championship before Bournemouth.

“After that Villa defeat I said to my friends: ‘It’s hunting season.’ History tells us this is not where you want City to be.”