Manchester City can only add three new players to their Champions League squad for the knockout stage. They qualified for the round of 16 with a dramatic win against Club Brugge, setting up a challenging match against Real Madrid. Despite being underdogs, Pep Guardiola is optimistic with the prospect of having additional players.

City has until February 6 to make these squad changes before the knockout rounds begin. During the January transfer window, they spent £175 million on new talent, giving Guardiola five new players to choose from: Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush, and Claudio Echeverri, who will join after his commitments with Argentina’s U-20 team.

However, UEFA rules allow only three out of these five to be registered unless more players from the group stage squad have left the club, which isn’t the case here. Echeverri might miss out due to his current unavailability, while Vitor Reis could be overlooked since he and Khusanov share a position.

Real Madrid confirms second huge injury blow for Manchester City Champions League clash

On Tuesday morning in Spain, Real Madrid announced through their official website and X account that another key player from their first team has been injured since the weekend. This injury will significantly impact their preparations for the upcoming Champions League playoff match against Manchester City.

“After the tests carried out on our player David Alaba by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the adductor of his left leg,” a statement on the matter read.

Real Madrid added their customary “pending evolution” note to the injury announcement. However, as per the popular Spanish soccer radio show El Partidazo de Cope, David Alaba is anticipated to be out for two to three weeks.

This comes shortly after fellow central defender Antonio Rudiger was also sidelined for a similar timeframe after he was substituted during their unexpected 1-0 La Liga loss to Espanyol on Saturday. The next morning, Madrid confirmed that Rudiger had suffered “an injury to the femoral biceps of his right leg.”

Once again, the “pending evolution” disclaimer was used, but with both Rudiger and Alaba out, coach Carlo Ancelotti now faces the Champions League playoff first leg against Manchester City at the Etihad without a senior center back.

Alaba was seen as a “new signing” for this crucial match, but while Rudiger might recover in time for the return leg at the Bernabeu on February 19, Alaba’s participation is in serious doubt.

Eder Militao is also unavailable due to a second ACL rupture within two seasons, which has limited Alaba’s playing time since December 2023.

Without these experienced defenders, Ancelotti might have to rely on rookie Raul Asencio and midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, who has had mixed results in this role throughout the season.

Some Real Madrid supporters might regret the club’s decision not to bring in defensive reinforcements during the January transfer window, which closed at midnight on February 3.

The saga surrounding Mario Lemina’s transfer might finally conclude in a way that Wolves fans would celebrate, as he nears a departure from the club.

Throughout the transfer window, Lemina caught the eye of several teams. Initially, Al Shabab made the first move for him back in January. Despite this, Vitor Pereira’s previous club couldn’t finalize a deal, leading to Galatasaray stepping in as a potential new home for the 31-year-old.

It has become evident that Wolves supporters were keen for Lemina to move on, especially after he declined to play in the match against Newcastle and expressed his desire to leave Molineux. Now, it looks like he might get his wish, with Galatasaray on the verge of securing the ex-Juventus player.

With Mario Lemina’s contract set to end in 2025, Wolves had initially set a £5 million price tag on their former captain. But as the transfer window nears its end, it seems the club’s leadership is ready to accept a lower fee to move him off their roster.

Journalist Ben Jacobs reported on X that Galatasaray has settled on a £2.5 million transfer fee for Lemina, after Al Shabab couldn’t secure his services last month.

The Turkish club has been keen on signing him throughout the window, and with no last-minute issues, they might confirm his transfer before the deadline.

The deal is progressing quickly; Lemina has already been spotted in Turkey, suggesting his transfer is imminent.

After Wolves’ stunning 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, Lemina congratulated his teammates but knew he wouldn’t regain favor after his refusal to play against Newcastle.

His actions have paved the way for a return to Turkey, where he previously played for Fenerbahçe.

If all goes according to plan and he inks a deal with Galatasaray, he’ll depart Wolves after two years, having made 77 appearances and scored six goals.

Manchester City’s recent negotiations with Porto over Nico Gonzalez have hit a snag, with Porto demanding that the Premier League champions pay the Spaniard’s £50 million release clause to secure his transfer.

Despite this, Gonzalez is keen to join Manchester City before the winter transfer window shuts, having previously declined a move to the club as a teenager.

Pep Guardiola’s team is in dire need of a midfielder to cover for the injured Rodri, with neither Mateo Kovacic nor Ilkay Gundogan proving adequate replacements.

Fortunately for Manchester City fans, according to TBR Football’s chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, the club is optimistic about securing Gonzalez’s signature. Guardiola views the former Barcelona player as a capable temporary stand-in for Rodri.

TBR Football also reports that Manchester City anticipates Gonzalez will make an immediate impact if the deal goes through on Monday.

Given how highly the club values the 23-year-old, paying the £50 million release clause seems like a prudent move, especially with their top-four Premier League position still in jeopardy.

Guardiola has a preference for players who can adapt to various roles, much like Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Manuel Akanji have done. Gonzalez, primarily a defensive midfielder, has shown versatility at Porto this season, playing in a double pivot or in more advanced midfield roles alongside Alan Varela, contributing significantly both defensively and offensively.

Should Manchester City sign Gonzalez, his ability to fit into different tactical setups could make him a key player under Guardiola.

David Ornstein: Man City pushing for deadline day midfield transfer

Manchester City are racing against time to finalize the transfer of Porto’s Nico Gonzalez before the transfer window closes. Although no deal has been confirmed yet, discussions are in progress as City seeks to enhance their midfield for the critical end of the season.

David Ornstein from The Athletic has highlighted Gonzalez as a key target for midfield support. At 23, Gonzalez’s versatility in playing both defensive and central midfield roles aligns perfectly with Pep Guardiola’s tactical needs.

Having risen through Barcelona’s La Masia academy, Gonzalez featured in 37 matches for Barcelona before his move to Porto in 2023. At Porto, he’s become indispensable, with 68 appearances across all competitions.

The transfer negotiations are complicated by a 40% sell-on clause Barcelona still holds from Gonzalez’s €8.5 million transfer to Porto, which could impact the deal’s financial structure. With the deadline looming, City must consider these financial aspects while convincing Porto to release their midfield star.

Manchester City have already made several acquisitions this window, including defenders Vitor Reis, Juma Bah, and Abdukodir Khusanov, plus forward Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt. Gonzalez’s potential addition would further deepen their squad, vital for their ambitions in various competitions.

For City supporters, the idea of bringing in Gonzalez is thrilling. Known for his technical prowess and tactical understanding, he could provide the much-needed stability in a midfield often stretched by injuries and rotation needs.

His multi-positional capabilities would give Guardiola additional options in team selection, especially useful with the careful management of Kevin De Bruyne’s playing time and Rodri’s heavy defensive responsibilities. Gonzalez could be a vital rotation player for intense matches.

The main challenge lies in negotiating with Porto this late in the transfer period. If an agreement is reached, Gonzalez’s arrival might prove to be a significant boost for Manchester City in their quest for success both domestically and in Europe.