Manchester City’s growing list of injuries ahead of the impending crunch festive period is becoming a real concern, particularly with Liverpool hot on City’s heels in the league and with four fronts to battle on once the FA Cup fixtures start in January.
Pep Guardiola’s biggest injury headache however is Benjamin Mendy. The French left-back struggled towards the end of last season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and, despite returning to fitness to be a World Cup winner with France in the summer and making a solid start to the 2018/19 campaign, Mendy’s knee flared up again in November.
After undergoing surgery following the 3-1 win over Manchester United, it was announced the 24-year-old would be out for a period of at least 12 weeks, a prognosis that now looks to be extended.
Despite remaining odds-on with mobile casino no deposit bonus keep what you win sites to win the title, City will be short of their first choice left-back for a crucial part of the season. Luckily, the January transfer window is just around the corner.
There are other options within the squad of course, with youngster Oleksandr Zinchenko, while Fabian Delph can also deputise on the left flank of defence.
But particularly with the funds that City have at their disposal, if they intend to challenge for multiple silverware this season they can’t just make do with a provisional backline. You’d have to expect that the club will enter the market for a Mendy replacement in January.
So who do they go for?
Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell is one viable option. At just 21-years-of-age, the youngster has played in all seventeen of Leicester’s matches so far this season after enjoying a breakout year in the last campaign.
Chilwell has also earned five call ups to Gareth Southgate’s England side in the past year, testament to the form he has displayed at club level. It is reported that Chilwell will be available for around £50 million in January, which if he is able to add a key contribution in City winning silverware this season will be a snip.
Another option and perhaps a less well known alternative to Chilwelll would be Faouzi Ghoulam, who currently plies his trade with Napoli. The 27-year-old was initially linked with City at the end of last season following Mendy’s original spell on the sidelines, but then the Algerian international suffered a serious knee injury himself.
He has since returned to action in Serie A however and featured for Napoli in their recent Champions League encounter with Liverpool. Ghoulam’s value is estimated to be around £25 million – which for a club of City’s stature would be a steal for a top player in any position in the current market.
One way or another, it looks as though Mendy’s days as a Man City regular are numbered. City look certain to sign a replacement in January and even when he does return from injury, the Frenchman’s frequent infractions on social media and carefree attitude to training have far from endeared him to Pep Guardiola.