It’s been obvious for some time that the boss remains keen to keep a right/left combination going at the heart of defence where Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna have been teamed with Fabian Balbuena becoming a seven match victim thus far.
Pellegrini is staying with the current situation but with question marks continuing to hang over Winston Reid, the boss is keen to bring in a left footed central defender given both the Paraguayan and Reid favour their right side.
And it may explain why reported summer targets Guillermo Marapan and a reported €18million offer for Palmeiras ‘Gustavo Gomez were both wide of the mark.
A loan signing with an option to buy could be on the cards in January although there is unlikely to any other action although were a striker to be available on the same basis that would be a possibility
However, the hope is that Michail Antonio will be back to full form and fitness and ready to cover through the middle should it be required.