PEP GUARDIOLA could be forced into the January sales after losing Aymeric Laporte until the New Year.

The Manchester City centre-back has had surgery on his right knee after being carried off in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Brighton.

And he is likely to be out for at least four months.

City last month missed out on Harry Maguire when he joined rivals United for £85million — about £20m more than City were willing to pay.

Etihad boss Pep had hoped to wait until next summer to buy a replacement for skipper Vincent Kompany, who left in May.

But Laporte’s absence leaves John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi as the only central defenders.

Guardiola plans to use midfielder Fernandinho in defence and could even use full-back Kyle Walker in the middle having spent £25.8m on right-back Joao Cancelo last month.

He also has Eric Garcia, 18, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, 17, who he is keen to blood at senior level.

Whatever his options, losing Laporte — the mainstay of City’s defence over the last 18 months — is a huge setback.

The £57m ace, who was City’s last significant January signing in 2018, injured his knee in a challenge on the Seagulls’ Adam Webster.

Scans showed no problems with his anterior cruciate ligament but there was damage to cartilage and his lateral meniscus.

Laporte, 25, was sent to Barcelona to see Dr Ramon Cugat — Pep’s preferred specialist — to have surgery on Tuesday, which City confirmed was a success.

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