Marc Guehi (right) and Antoine SemenyoGetty Images
Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter
Manchester City have signalled their intent with the signings of Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo in this transfer window, but defeat by Manchester United on Saturday has left them seven points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race.
With Pep Guardiola's side still competing on all four fronts, both players will bolster a squad that has been hit by a number of injuries again this season, but also for the long-term future having signed five-and-a-half-year contracts.
Guehi and Semenyo had the pick of numerous other clubs but chose City, which will no doubt delight Guardiola and those in the hierarchy, knowing players feel City is the best place for them to compete at the highest level and attempt to win major trophies.
Sources say the signing of Guehi is not a knee-jerk reaction or panic buy because of the issues in defence - he is a player that they have admired for a while and would have pushed to sign in the summer but the opportunity to complete a deal came about this month and it proved too good to turn down.
Though in the final few months of his contract at Crystal Palace, a £20m fee is a modest one for a player that is classed as one of the best English defenders, still relatively young at 25 and one that easily have been playing in red for Liverpool.