Man City suffer major blow as Josko Gvardiol ruled out for months with tibial fracture to his right leg

In a statement on the club’s official website, Man City said: "Manchester City FC can confirm that Josko Gvardiol has suffered a tibial fracture to his right leg. The injury was sustained during the second half of Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League.

"The defender will have surgery later this week and assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis. Everyone at the Club wishes Josko a speedy recovery and mancity.com will bring you regular updates regarding his rehabilitation".

Gvardiol has been a key player for City due to his ability to play both centre-back and left-back. This season, he has made 23 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals and providing four assists. He has mainly played at centre-back and partnered Ruben Dias. The Portuguese defender was also forced off during the Chelsea match, but his condition remains unclear.

Pep Guardiola now has limited options at centre-back. Nathan Aké and Khusanov are the main alternatives, but neither is seen as a long-term solution. City are also dealing with injury concerns in attack, with Nico Gonzalez and Savinho both facing doubts over their availability.

Given the situation, City could be active in the January transfer window. A potential move for Antoine Semenyo remains uncertain, while the club are also looking for a centre-back to cover Gvardiol’s position. Marc Guehi has emerged as a possible target, with City able to sign him this winter. However, the Crystal Palace defender is also attracting interest from Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Man City are currently second in the league with 42 points, six points behind leaders Arsenal and level on points with third-placed Aston Villa. Their upcoming fixtures include Brighton on 8 January, Exeter City in the third round of the FA Cup on 10 January, and Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals on 14 January.