Manchester City forward Savinho was taken off in the draw with Sunderland and will be out for a considerable time
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 7: Pep Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion at Etihad Stadium on January 7, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 7: Pep Guardiola, head coach of Manchester City, looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion at Etihad Stadium on January 7, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Copa/Getty Images)
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Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is expecting Savinho to miss at least six weeks with the injury he picked up on New Year's Day. The Brazilian winger had to be substituted in the second half of the 0-0 draw with Sunderland with an injury to his quadriceps.
Savinho is one of nine players that are unavailable for Guardiola, with an injury crisis contributing to a slump in form that has seen the team draw three successive games. The Brazilian could now be out of action for two months. Jeremy Doku came on for Savinho at Sunderland and made his first start in three weeks after returning from injury in the 1-1 draw with Brighton on Wednesday.
City's manager said afterwards that Savinho would be out for 'a long time' before clarifying that it would be months rather than ruling him out for the season. With Oscar Bobb also currently sidelined, it leaves few options for Guardiola on the wings.
That will hopefully change this week with the arrival of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. The 25-year-old scored a last-minute winner at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday and was applauded off by the home fans in what is expected to be his final appearances before travelling up to Manchester on Thursday and finalising a move to the Etihad.
Guardiola was not going to be drawn on Semenyo though, responding to a question about a new winger by saying: "I don't know what's going to happen in the transfer window."
But Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said all but confirmed the move when asked if the forward had played his last game for the Cherries. "I think it was, unluckily for us I think it was," he said. ""He has been if not the best, one of the best I have coached. He has improved every single season. He has scored 10 goals in half a season and not even a number nine. It is not just the numbers but a lot of things - the physicality, the balls in the air and the defensive things. He will be a big miss."
The forward could be able to feature for City against Exeter in the FA Cup this weekend if a deal is completed before Friday's deadline. City will be looking to win for the first time in four when they take on Exeter after three successive draws in the Premier League that have hurt their cause in the title race. It will be a much-changed team though as the Blues look to survive with so many injuries.