Manchester City to be without 6 first-team stars for their PL clash against Crystal Palace: Reports

Manchester City are set to be without Philip Foden, Nathan Ake, and Manuel Akanji in their upcoming league game against Crystal Palace on Saturday, December 7. This is according to a report by Manchester Evening News.

This latest setback adds to the list of injured players as Rodri, Mateo Kovacic, and Oscar Bobb have been unavailable. Foden is reportedly battling with a bronchitis problem having missed City's last game against Nottingham Forest.

While Ake suffered a hamstring problem in City's 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, December 4. Meanwhile, Akanji might also be unavailable as he was substituted at halftime in Manchester City's win over Nottingham Forest.

However, a fitness test will be conducted before a final decision regarding Akanji's availability will be taken. The potential absence of six first-team players could be a huge setback for Pep Guardiola's men as they travel to Selhurst Park.

Manchester City have registered 26 points from 14 Premier League games and they are ranked fourth in the standings. Crystal Palace have secured 12 points from 14 games and they are ranked 17th on the league table.

The Cityzens will be looking to secure all three points as they've lost their last five away games across all competitions.

Manchester City interested in signing Samuele Ricci from Torino FC - Reports

Torino v Lecce - Serie A - Source: Getty

The Cityzens are interested in signing Samuele Ricci from Torino, according to a recent report by Football365. The report also indicated that City have tabled €35 million for Ricci. In recent weeks, Manchester City's midfield has suffered a dip in form. Ilkay Gundogan and Matheus Nunes have also struggled to stabilize the midfield.

City's interest in signing Ricci could be due to the loophole that Rodri's absence has created. It is believed that the Italian could provide the needed balance in City's midfield if signed. This season, Ricci has proven to be solid in midfield for Torino FC.

In 14 Serie A appearances, he has won 51 ground duels and registered 15 clearances. The 23-year-old has also registered 481 successful passes out of 537. If signed, his versatility to feature in multiple midfield positions could also benefit Pep Guardiola's side. Ricci is contracted at Torino till June 2026, and City would have to defeat AC Milan in the race to sign the youngster.