Manchester City will rely on current members of the squad to back up Fernandinho despite lacking a natural replacement for the holding midfielder, sources have told ESPN FC.
The Brazil international has missed just two Premier League matches this season and both ended in defeat -- a 3-2 loss to Crystal Palace and a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City.
A the beginning of the season, City had hoped to use Douglas Luiz as a deputy after the young Brazilian impressed on the preseason tour to the United States. But the £10 million signing from Vasco da Gama was refused a work permit and was then sent back on loan to sister club Girona.
Douglas has since made 11 appearances for the La Liga club but there are no plans to recall him in January, according to sources.
Spain Under-21 midfielder Aleix Garcia is also on loan at Girona, making 16 appearances, and is also set to remain at the Catalan club.
Former New York City FC midfielder Yangel Herrera has been training with the first team after his two-year loan spell in MLS came to an end. But the Venezuela international is set to be loaned during the January transfer window with several Spanish clubs looking at the 20-year-old, sources add.
City boss Pep Guardiola has consistently ruled out making any new signings before the summer and says he has players that are able to cover other positions.
Defender John Stones played the position in the defeat to Palace while Ilkay Gundogan tried the role against Leicester. Neither player appeared comfortable.
Asked about the possibility of signings in the January transfer window ahead of Thursday's top-of-the-table clash with Liverpool, Guardiola told a news conference: "No news is good news, so no. Maybe tomorrow I change my opinion but today no.
"I am glad with the players I have, they can play in different positions. We are going to live with that situation."
With Fernandinho turning 34 before the end of the season, a new signing for the holding midfield role will become a priority in the summer window.
Sources have told ESPN FC that City remain interested in Ajax's highly-rated Dutch international Frenkie de Jong, although they face competition from Barcelona and Paris St-Germain for his signature.
Wolves' Ruben Neves and Lyon's Tanguy Ndombele have also been linked with a summer move to the Etihad Stadium.