Manchester City are ready to wait until the summer to strengthen their squad despite missing out on a holding midfielder, sources have told ESPN FC.
Ajax’s Frenkie de Jong and Ruben Neves of Wolves are among the potential signings after City missed out on top target Jorginho in the summer.
Pep Guardiola is not normally keen on buying players in the January window although City signed Aymeric Laporte at the start of this year and were also close to adding Alexis Sanchez and Riyad Mahrez.
The City boss wanted to add an extra midfielder before the start of the season with Jorginho identified as his top target, but he followed Maurizio Sarri to Chelsea instead with City unable to bring in an alternative before the transfer window closed.
It leaves City heavily reliant on Fernandinho in that position although Guardiola is delighted with the form of the Brazilian, describing his performance in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Burnley as “extraordinary.”
City are short of alternatives, with defender John Stones playing the role in the Carabao Cup victory over League One side Oxford United last month, but they are unlikely to make any new signings unless there is a run of injuries or bad form, which could alter their thinking.
De Jong, 21, is one of the highest-rated young midfielders in Europe with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United all linked with the Netherlands international.
United have also been linked with Portuguese international Neves, 21, who has continued his outstanding form in the Premier League following Wolves’ promotion last season.
Guardiola has said that Stones, Danilo and Oleksander Zinchenko are all capable of playing in midfield.