Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he turned down the chance to rebuild his squad before the start of the season but now admits that was a mistake.

He said that the club’s board wanted to buy more players but he told them that they would be able to cope. But he said he should have taken up the chance because struggling City have been left short of options this term amid injuries to Rodri, Oscar Bobb, John Stones and Rúben Dias.

“In the summer the club thought about doing it [rebuilding the squad], and I said: ‘No, I don’t want to make any signings. I rely on the team and I want to stay with them’,” Guardiola said.

“Just Savio came in and Gundo came back. But after the injuries — wow — maybe we should have done it. You never know though in that position. I think the team is really good and the squad is really, really good.”

The January transfer window, however, is allowing Guardiola to make up. A £42-million deal has been agreed for Abdukodir Khusanov, the 20-year-old Racing Lens centre back, and the club are in talks with Palmeiras over the potential signing of Vitor Reis, the 18-year-old centre back who is valued at £33.5-million.

City are trying to sign the 25-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush this month and could also move for a central midfielder, with Éderson of Atalanta high on their shortlist.

Guardiola has suffered from a lack of numbers in defence this season with four of his five centre backs sidelined by injuries. Josko Gvardiol is the only centre back to remain free of injury, while Stones, Dias, Akanji and Nathan Aké have all struggled at times.

Stones, a crucial member of the Treble-winning team of two seasons ago, has played only one game in the past seven weeks, but is closing in on a return to fitness.