In a bold move amidst a congested fixture list and mounting injury concerns, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the club’s trio of January signings are set for a baptism of fire in Saturday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea.
The reigning champions splashed out over €142 million ($148.9m) in a frenetic week of transfer activity, securing the services of Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis. Now, with key players still sidelined, Guardiola is ready to throw his new recruits straight into the deep end.
Yeah [they will be in the squad], we don’t have players. We didn’t train much because we travelled [back from Paris]. All together they didn’t meet once.
Omar [trained] on Thursday. The others a little bit but not all together.
– Pep Guardiola on integrating the new signings
Marmoush the Marquee Man
The most eye-catching acquisition is undoubtedly that of Omar Marmoush, who arrives from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal that could rise to €75m ($78m). The 25-year-old Egyptian forward has been in scintillating form in the Bundesliga this season, notching 15 goals in just 17 appearances.
Guardiola was effusive in his praise of Marmoush, highlighting the striker’s potential as a key factor in the club’s decision to splash the cash:
The reason why [City signed Marmoush] was the potential. Last season we didn’t do much [in the transfer market] with the exceptional quality of the team. We anticipate two, three more for the summer.
The club thought he was for the future for many years. He has quality in the final third.
– Pep Guardiola on Omar Marmoush
Khusanov and Reis Round Out the Recruits
While Marmoush may be the headline-grabber, Guardiola also expressed confidence in the ability of fellow new boys Khusanov and Reis to hit the ground running in England’s top flight.
Khusanov, a 22-year-old Uzbek midfielder, arrives from Russian side CSKA Moscow with a growing reputation as a dynamic box-to-box presence. Reis, meanwhile, is a highly-rated 19-year-old Portuguese centre-back signed from Sporting CP.
Vitor is young, a huge personality. Khusanov has already settled, and playing in the French league he’s handled fast players.
– Pep Guardiola assesses his new signings
Trial By Fire Against the Blues
The decision to throw the new recruits straight into action against a Chelsea side that has found some form under Graham Potter is a bold one, but Guardiola’s hand has been forced somewhat by City’s ongoing injury issues.
Defensive lynchpin Rúben Dias was forced off at half-time in the midweek Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, while Belgian winger Jeremy Doku remains sidelined. With games coming thick and fast, City’s squad depth is being severely tested.
A Statement of Intent
While the timing may not be ideal, the fact that City have been able to secure such high-profile signings in the notoriously challenging January window is a clear statement of the club’s ambition and financial muscle.
As the Premier League title race enters a critical phase, Guardiola and the City hierarchy have moved decisively to reinforce their ranks for the battles ahead. The question now is whether Marmoush, Khusanov, and Reis can repay that faith with instant impact on the pitch.
Saturday’s clash with Chelsea will provide the first clues, as Manchester City’s new dawn begins in earnest. In Guardiola’s high-stakes world, there is precious little time to ease in new recruits – it’s sink or swim from the off.
