Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defender Aymeric Laporte is set to be ruled out until September after undergoing knee surgery over the summer.
The 28-year-old missed the club's pre-season tour of the USA due to a knee injury that he sustained against Wolverhampton Wanderers towards the end of last season.
After briefly losing his place in the starting lineup to John Stones, Laporte regained his place at centre-back and formed a successful partnership alongside Ruben Dias in 2021-22.
The Spain international scored four goals in 33 Premier League appearances for the Citizens on their way to lifting the title last term, as well as featuring 11 times across the Champions League and FA Cup.
However, Guardiola has revealed that Laporte will now miss the start of City's title defence as well as Saturday's Community Shield against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.
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Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Guardiola said: "Laporte is injured. He had surgery after the last few games (of last season), he made an incredible effort.
"He had surgery, he's doing incredibly well, you have to do careful. It's his knee, he might be out until September."
Guardiola still has four centre-back options at his disposal, with Stones, Dias, Nathan Ake and academy graduate Luke Mbete all available for the Spaniard this weekend.
Stones is in fact one of three players, along with Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan, who has made a welcomed return to the first-team squad after missing the club's pre-season tour of the USA.
All three players were forced to train with the club's Under-23s in Croatia over the summer after failing to meet the USA's entry requirements.
Meanwhile, new recruits Erling Braut Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Kalvin Phillips and Stefan Ortega are also available to make their competitive debuts for the club this weekend.
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The Citizens have been busy in the transfer market so far this summer with both incoming and outgoings, spending close to £100m as well as generating around £174m from player sales.
Guardiola has confirmed that City remain active in the transfer market and intend to recruit a left-back following the departure of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Marc Cucurella is believed to be their primary target, but Guardiola refused to be drawn on speculation regarding their pursuit of the 24-year-old.
"He's a Brighton player, I cannot say anything else," said the Man City boss. "If it's possible (to sign a left-back), yes, if it's not we stay.
"Joao [Cancelo] can play there, Josh [Wilson-Esbrand], Nathan [Ake]. I never complain about the squad I have since the first season. What the club can do is the benefit for the club not me. I support the club."
Cucurella is understood to have handed in a transfer request at Brighton to try to force through a move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Oliver Thomas
