Why Man City have quietly signed a fourth centre-back this month as transfer plans confirmed

Manchester City are not hanging about in the January transfer window, adding two more centre-backs to their collection this week after the £63m swoop for Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis.

Khusanov, 20, had an eventful debut against Chelsea, thrown in at the deep end amid injury and fitness issues in the City first-team, while 18-year-old Reis will be given more time to adapt after his move from Palmeiras.

And this week City made it four central defenders signed in January as Jumah Bah was announced as a new signing from Real Valladolid before heading straight out on loan to RC Lens - who just sold Khusanov to the Blues.

City will assess Bah in the summer after confirming his signing and immediate loan in an understated article on their website. Valladolid had accused City of persuading Bah to exercise his right to pay his €6m (£5m) release clause. Bah, 18, will play for Lens until the end of the season, before a decision will be taken on whether to keep him in Manchester or seek another loan.

One player who will remain in Manchester is defender Christian McFarlane, who will join the City under-21s after completing a move from sister-club New York City FC for an undisclosed fee, where he will be given a chance to impress in his new surroundings.

City have paid a fee for the 18-year-old and New York retain a sell-on clause on the English-born defender, who becomes the first NYCFC homegrown player to move to a Premier League side.

McFarlane joins straight away after coming through the New York City Football Academy from an 11-year-old to make his senior debut last year. He has gone on to make 13 first team appearances for the City Football Group side since his debut in June as a 17-year-old, and has three caps for England