What to expect from Man City in January transfer window

You could make an argument that the January transfer window is coming too late for Manchester City. It's been a testing first half to this season but 2024 dawns with the Blues finding some form and, crucially, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland returning to training.

Pep Guardiola has had to find solutions for injury issues within his small squad so far. De Bruyne hasn't kicked a ball since the first minutes of the season and Haaland has been absent for nearly a month. That's the same for Jeremy Doku while John Stones missed the first two months of the season and is now injured again.

In the circumstances, perhaps City aren't getting enough credit for being in a very similar position to last season in terms of their points tally. When De Bruyne and Haaland return this month, they will look immensely strong again.

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That isn't to say January will pass without incident. Guardiola's need for reinforcements for those key players has shrunk, but one exit is likely. Kalvin Phillips must now realise his face is never going to fit at the Etihad.

He has started just two games - the two most inconsequential of the season - and was overlooked for three fixtures when Rodri was unavailable. The writing has been on the wall for a long time and a move will suit all parties. Juventus have a strong interest in taking Phillips on loan and Newcastle are monitoring the situation as well.

A like-for-like replacement for the England international is unlikely but City are set to clinch the signing of Argentina Under-17 World Cup star Claudio Echeverri, paying River Plate £21.7million for the 17-year-old.

Echeverri will remain at