Manchester City line up £35m swoop for Alexis Sanchez after injury crisis strikes Premier League leaders

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Manchester City are exploring the possibility of signing Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal in the January transfer window after losing Gabriel Jesus for two months.

Sanchez is set to move to the Etihad as a free agent in the summer when his contract runs out despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Jesus's knee ligament injury has left City with just one fit striker in Sergio Aguero as they try to compete for four trophies in the second half of the season.

Manchester City are ready to make another move for Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez this month

It's understood that Arsenal would consider offers of £35million for Sanchez having turned down a £60m bid from City in the summer.

City have been unwilling to meet that demand for a player who will cost nothing in six months' time but may try to reach a compromise.

Asked if they will be forced into the transfer market this month after Jesus and captain Vincent Kompany were sidelined, manager Pep Guardiola said: 'We spoke about it before the injuries to Gabriel and Vincent, but it's so difficult. I don't know if it will be possible.

City were set to wait it out and take Sanchez from the Gunners on a free in the summer

'We are working now for this month but also for the future. Whatever happens, I will work with the players I have. The toughest period to buy players is now because everyone wants to keep the players so it's not easy.

'We need Gabriel, we need Sergio, we need both. But now, in this moment, we'll have maybe two months without Gabriel. Two months is a lot of games, so we just have one.

'So hopefully we can handle it until the end because, of course, we need the striker's goals.'

Gabriel Jesus's two month absence from the City side could force Pep Guardiola's hand

City simply cannot afford to lose Aguero now and Guardiola will try to give the Argentine a break where possible to protect him from the extra workload.

'Of course, we are going to speak every day after the games and before the games about how he feels,' added the City boss.

'But you have to handle it. What I know from my past, when you want to fight for all competitions, you have to handle the bad moments. You cannot expect to win if everything is going perfectly.'

Even so, Guardiola insisted that talk of a Quadruple is 'an illusion' as City enter the second half of the season competing on four fronts.

Guardiola is ready to bid £35m for Sanchez but admitted he doesn't know 'if it will be possible'

The Premier League leaders face Burnley at home in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday and Bristol City in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Tuesday having already sailed into the last 16 of the Champions League.

'Maybe that question can be asked in March or April if we are still in all four competitors,' said Guardiola. 'But tomorrow is the third round of the FA Cup. So thinking about four competitions, it's an illusion. It's not realistic.'

City will once again let David Silva decide if he plays on Saturday after the midfielder revealed that his recent absences are due to the premature birth of his baby boy in Spain.