SEMTHING SPECIAL

Lijnders knows City have pulled off brilliant business with big January deals for Semenyo and Guehi

- BY SIMON BAJKOWSKI

PEP LIJNDERS believes Manchester City have pulled off something difficult in the January window, by landing two top transfers as they look to challenge on four fronts.

Assistant coach Lijnders hailed “excellent business”, with City spending £82.5million on Antoine Semenyo, 26, and Marc Guehi, 25, as they push for silverware this season.

The club have pointed out that both players were signed for the long term rather than as short-term fixes, with each agreeing contracts until 2031.

However, the newcomers have undeniably given Pep Guardiola an immediate boost, too.

Semenyo has already scored in three different competitions for his new employers, and Guehi kept a clean sheet in the Premier League on his City debut to help a team that had been faltering with injuries.