Sergio Aguero is no longer Manchester City’s undisputed first choice striker (Picture: Getty)

Manchester City are unlikely to sign Alexis Sanchez in January because they fear upsetting star striker Sergio Aguero, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The runaway Premier League leaders were on the verge of signing Sanchez on transfer deadline day back in August but the deal collapsed after Arsenal were unable to persuade Thomas Lemar to join them from Monaco as the Chilean’s replacement.

City were expected to reignite their interest in Sanchez when the window reopens next month but reports claim their record breaking start to the season, which has helped Pep Guardiola’s side open up an 11 point lead at the top of the table, prompted a change of plan.

Manchester City want to sign Virgil van Dijk in January (Picture: Getty)

Augero, who became City’s all-time record goalscorer earlier this season, has scored 10 times this term despite having been regularly rotated with Gabriel Jesus and was reportedly upset to have been left out of the starting line-up for the recent Manchester derby victory.

Guardiola is said to be concerned that any major incomings could impact on the squad harmony that has contributed to a run of 16 consecutive league victories and will instead wait until the summer to add Sanchez to their ranks.

The Daily Mirror reported on Wednesday that City are already preparing a staggering £400,000-a-week offer for the former Barcelona forward who will enter the final six months of his Arsenal contract in January.

If City are to spend next month, it is likely to be in defence where they will rival Liverpool for the signing of Virgil van Dijk, while West Brom’s Jonny Evans and Real Sociedad’s Spain international Inigo Martinez are being considered as alternatives.

MORE : Chelsea can exact revenge on Arsenal in League Cup semi-finals, says Antonio Conte