Pep Guardiola has claimed that Manchester City could not afford to buy a replacement for Vincent Kompany, despite his team spending around £130 million ($158m) over the summer.
City have something of an injury crisis at centre half after Aymeric Laporte went down with a knee injury Guardiola fears might be serious in Saturday’s game against Brighton.
Central midfielder Fernandinho was forced into emergency service as John Stones was already absent through injury, though he is expected back after the international break.
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Club captain Kompany was allowed to leave at the end of last season to become player-manager at Anderlecht, and no direct replacement was acquired.