Guardiola not seeking new arrivals despite Man City trailing Liverpool by 11 points in Premier League title race
Tuesday 3 December 2019 10:42, UK
Pep Guardiola has ruled out Manchester City signing any new players in the upcoming January transfer window, saying he "doesn't want" any arrivals.
City have been short of options in central defence this season with Aymeric Laporte (knee) still out with a long-term injury, while John Stones also missed eight matches during September and October with a muscle problem.
The club failed to replace departing captain Vincent Kompany in the summer, losing out on Harry Maguire to Manchester United, but Guardiola has stressed that his team does not need any further additions at this stage of the 2019/20 campaign.
"I don't want any players in January," Guardiola said. "We cannot do it in summer, we cannot do it in January.
"When an incredible opportunity comes in January for the next four or five or six years, maybe we can think about it. But that is not possible. Normally the players we think could be interesting, [clubs] are not going to sell them.
"We could not sign a centre-back [in the summer]. We decided to adapt Fernandinho in this position and that's all. Sometimes the club wants to try to do the best but sometimes we cannot. We have to adapt with the players that we have.
"Vincent decided to go to Belgium. We have another alternative in other players and I'm thinking about that. No [we don't miss him], the group is extraordinary. They are incredible. They take of themselves perfectly, have an incredible unit.
"Vincent is and was and will be an important player and person for this club. But he decided to go to Belgium and we have other incredible players to try to do the job they have to do."
Sky Sports News understands Leicester duo Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu were among a number of centre-back options being considered by City.
Guardiola has previously admitted that the club could not afford to sign former Foxes defender Maguire last summer.
Meanwhile, Guardiola also confirmed that City will not discuss a possible new contract for Fernandinho until the end of the season.
The 34-year-old Brazil midfielder, who has been deployed as a centre-back this season, sees his current deal expire in June 2020.
Guardiola says the club will assess those players out of contract when the campaign is over, with David Silva and Claudio Bravo's deals also coming to an end, but Silva confirmed in the summer he is leaving the Etihad.
"There will be a need to regenerate. David has confirmed he is leaving. Fernandinho doesn't know, but its normal when players reach this age and stage in their lives," Guardiola said. "Of course we have to replace them [if they leave].
"I think at the end of the season we are going to decide all the situations; the players finishing contracts, the players for contracts, what we have to do, what we believe is the best for the club, for the organisation next season.
"[If they leave] we don't have to rebuild too much. Three players is not rebuilding a team. That's bringing in seven players, like we did in the second season when seven finished their contracts. Three players is just substituting some positions."
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