The twists of this fraught season continue for Manchester City after Real Valladolid threw an inflammatory accusation that January target Juma Bah had been encouraged to break his contract.

A lengthy statement from the La Liga side dropped just as Pep Guardiola was putting the finishing touches to his team in their Paris hotel.

And the contents were meaty, Valladolid claiming that Bah – a central defender from Sierra Leone – was ‘supported and guided’ by the Premier League champions to opt against turning up for training on Wednesday.

It’s thought that he is currently available at around £5million but that would almost triple were he to pen a new deal. Bah informed the club on Tuesday he wanted to break his contract and City attempted to enter negotiations with Valladolid on the same day. He then didn’t turn up 24 hours later.

City have not commented on the statement, which read: ‘The player’s intention, supposedly supported and guided by Manchester City and his agent, has caused great disappointment and indignation within Real Valladolid, who welcomed Juma Bah with open arms and gave him the opportunity of a lifetime.’

Real Valladolid have accused Man City of encouraging Juma Bah to break his contract

Bah expressed his desire to break his contract and did not turn up for training 24 hours later

The accusation is another twist in a fraught season for Pep Guardiola’s struggling side

Bah would probably argue that joining City represents exactly that, even though the plan for his development seems to include an immediate loan spell away from Manchester.

Valladolid added: ‘The Royal Spanish Football Federation has just confirmed that the player has deposited the amount for the unilateral termination of the contract. In this regard, Real Valladolid reports that it reserves the right to resort to the appropriate legal and sporting jurisdictions to exercise its rights and defend its interests.’

So this signing, which would be City’s fourth of an exceptionally busy £130m window, may well drag on for a little while longer. Two defenders are already in the building and City’s thinking in that area of the pitch is intriguing, going for potential rather than ready-made.

Abdukodir Khusanov is the more likely to make an immediate impact and pressing ahead with his £33m arrival from Lens is partly down to the never-ending injury list at the back. John Stones, back on the bench against Paris Saint-Germain, has played 57 minutes in the last two months, while Nathan Ake is again on the sidelines.

They need bodies, although sources are urging caution over Khusanov, a 20-year-old Uzbekistan international. He is rapid – as fast as the outgoing Kyle Walker – but has been known to struggle to ‘put the brakes on’ when flying into challenges. ‘He needs to slow down,’ one scout said last week. 

There is learning to be done and he will not play every week but – crucially – his speed opens up the prospect of possessing more insurance to nullify counter attacks were Rico Lewis to operate as an inverted full back.

That gives Guardiola more options tactically, while Vitor Reis, 19, can also play centrally or wide after sealing a £29m switch from Palmeiras. 

Both of them are training, available for Chelsea at the weekend, and are set to be joined by Omar Marmoush in the next 24 hours.

Man City suffered a 4-2 defeat to PSG on Wednesday to highlight the need for fresh faces

Man City have already signed defenders Abdukodir Khusanov, left, and Vitor Reis, right

City have gone for potential, with Khusanov seen as most likely to make an immediate impact

With 15 Bundesliga goals for Eintracht Frankfurt this term, Marmoush is the true exciting signing of the window. 

Guardiola can play him across the front three and likes to push a No 10 high up to Erling Haaland, which represents a tantalising prospect.

And City are still looking at landing a central midfielder. Decisive action. As decisive as whoever took the pin out of Valladolid’s grenade.