Manchester City could be set to dip into the transfer market to find a replacement for Erling Haaland in January.
Haaland faces a potential lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a foot injury and missing City's 2-1 win over Luton on Sunday.
The match was the first the free-scoring striker has missed this season through injury and it's unclear how long he will be sidelined for.
City manager Pep Guardiola stated after the Luton game that it is unlikely Haaland will return for his side's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at the weekend, though he could be back in time for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia next week.
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The champions await further news on the issue, however, which Guardiola described as a "bone stress reaction", but the Spaniard confirmed the bone is not broken.
Haaland has scored 19 goals in 22 games in all competitions this season, his second in City colours, after his record-breaking debut campaign.
Julian Alvarez deputised for him at Kenilworth Road, picking up an assist, but has been playing in midfield in Kevin De Bruyne's absence.
Football Insider claim that a club source has stated "the money is there" for a replacement to be signed in the January transfer window should Haaland's injury end up being worse than first feared.
De Bruyne, meanwhile, is close to being fit having missed the whole season so far through injury, with his return a timely one given Haaland's absence.
City were relieved to make it through the Luton fixture without their talisman with Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham struggling at Kenilworth Road in recent times.
They went behind in the game after Elijah Adebayo netted, but hit back through Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish in the second half.
Guardiola and Co will have been delighted to do so amid the risk of falling further behind the front runners in the Premier League title race.
Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Premier League, Transfers, Pep Guardiola
Lewis Browning