Aymeric Laporte sidelined for start of Manchester City's campaign as Pep Guardiola stays coy on Marc Cucurella links

Aymeric Laporte will miss the start of Manchester City's Premier League title defence after undergoing knee surgery in the summer.

Manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed the Spain international could be out for at least a month after playing through the pain barrier in the closing matches of last season.

City were hit by a number of other defensive injuries during the run-in with John Stones, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake all affected.

Speaking at a press conference to preview the Community Shield against Liverpool on Saturday, Guardiola said: "Laporte is injured. He had knee surgery after last season. He played the last two or three games with an important injury.

"He made an incredible effort to do that but he could not continue.

"So far he is doing really well but you have to be careful because it is a knee. He needs time. I think August he will be out, but maybe in September he will start to be with us."

Guardiola confirmed City are hoping to bolster their defensive ranks by signing a new left-back but refused to be drawn on speculation linking the club with Brighton's Marc Cucurella.

The departure of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal over the summer has left Joao Cancelo as the only senior, specialist option in the position.

There have been reports that Spaniard Cucurella has handed in a transfer request at the Amex Stadium but Guardiola would not comment.

"He is a Brighton player. I cannot say anything else," he said.

On the general issue of whether City would like a left-back, he said: "If it is possible, yes. If not, we stay with what we have.

"We have enough players who can play there. Joao can play there, Josh (Wilson-Esbrand), Nathan (Ake) can play there."

Guardiola is hopeful that star summer signings Erling Haaland