Alexis Sánchez's move to Manchester City put on hold | OneFootball

It was supposed to happen in the summer but did not and now it looks like Alexis Sánchez’s proposed move to Manchester City will be put on hold even longer.

According to a report from Goal, Pep Guardiola is still interested in signing the Chilean international but is worried about upsetting the balance of his squad.

That is not the only reason, however. The Catalan wants to sign a centre-back in January and that takes priority over the signing of Sánchez.

Given City’s shortage of options at the back – with Guardiola unable to rely on the fitness of Vincent Kompany or the form of Eliaquim Mangala – and the fact that his side are the Premier League’s top scorers – they have scored 17 goal more than second placed Manchester United – this prioritisation will come as no surprise.

A £6om deal had been agreed for Sánchez during the summer only for it to fall through in the final stages.

“Guardiola wanted Alexis to shake up the City forward line and help introduce a hard-working attitude and killer instinct in front of goal,” the report adds. “The Blues have since found those qualities without the Chilean, however, and Guardiola is now wary of disrupting the dynamic of his squad by introducing a player who would expect to play the vast majority of games.

“Another factor is the form of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, who have performed above pre-season expectations. Guardiola does not see any reason why they should have less game time, though he remains insistent that both need to improve.

“The situation could yet change if one or more of City’s forwards pick up an injury in the next five weeks, therefore removing the issue of how certain squad members would react if left out of the side.

“But as it stands the likelihood is that the Blues will put their move on hold until the summer. Though they have maintained contact with the forward’s agent and are confident they are still favourites to sign him at a later date, they are fully aware that several of Europe’s top clubs could legally turn his head with counter offers from January 1.”

As for centre-backs, Virgil van Dijk is top of Guardiola’s shopping list though Real Sociedad’s Iñigo Martínez is also being considered. The decision between the two could boil down to whoever is more likely to be content as a backup option to John Stones and Nicolás Otamendi.  At this stage, another effort to sign Jonny Evans is considered unlikely.