Pep Guardiola wants to sign a centre-back in January – but will hold off on Alexis Sanchez until the summer

Pep Guardiola has prioritised a centre-back in next month’s transfer window — after deciding to hold off on Alexis Sanchez until the summer.

Manchester City boss Guardiola wants to bring in a central defender to provide sufficient cover for John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala.

With Stones and skipper Kompany currently sidelined through injury, Guardiola is concerned he does not have adequate cover in central defence to see City through the rest of the season.

City looked at bringing in Jonny Evans from West Brom in the summer and have not ruled out going back in for him next month, while Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk is another option.

Guardiola is also looking to sign a deep-lying central midfielder in the summer, with Yaya Toure leaving City at the end of this season after eight years at the Etihad Stadium.

Fernandinho, who is out of contract at the end of this season, will be offered a new deal to stay on, but Guardiola wants to bring in a younger, dynamic defensive midfielder to replace Toure.

As reported by Mirror Sport, City are ready to wait until the summer to land Sanchez from Arsenal as a free agent, having failed with a £60m bid for him on deadline day in the summer.

Guardiola and City’s hierarchy are mindful of potentially disrupting the balance of the side by bringing in such a high-profile arrival midway through a campaign which is going so well.