Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has refused to discuss specific January targets despite suggestions the club are closing in on three new arrivals.
City have struggled with injuries in the first half of the season and sit sixth in the Premier League table, although their recent form has improved after back-to-back wins over Leicester and West Ham.
Reports suggest progress is being made on deals for Lens defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Palmeiras teenager Vitor Reis as well as Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
Guardiola, however, was not giving anything away when he spoke to the media ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup clash with neighbors Salford.
Asked about any possible transfer activity, he said: “Don’t ask me about it because I’m not going to (answer). All month you’ll be asking the same thing about everything we’ve been linked to in the media, so I’m not going to talk. You can persist, I’m not going to answer because I don’t know the situation.
“We know we shouldn’t go into the transfer window, I don’t like it very much. The situation that happened this season with many, many, many injuries, we have to try to do it because the situation is what it is. But so what, I’m not going to talk because I don’t know.
“Of course I have discussions with the club, but the process and what is happening, I don’t know what will happen because it is so difficult. And what’s going to happen will happen, otherwise I can’t say anything else.”
Was I not clear?
Pressing Marmoush specifically, he said, “Listen, wasn’t I clear in my answer? Come! I was clear in my answer. I’m not going to talk. He is a player of another club, I do not say answer.
“You can say in every press conference to talk about the transfer window until the end, I’m not going to answer one question! Don’t go that way!
“In the past the same thing happened. I was clear, right? You can try it whenever you want, no problem, but you know my answer.”
Guardiola gives Haaland little
Neither John Stones nor Ruben Diaz are fit enough to return tomorrow, although Ederson is available, while Guardiola declined to say whether top scorer Erling Haaland will be rested.
He said: “You will see tomorrow. He feels good, he had some nibbles on the first day but we’ve got seven days from West Ham to Salford to recover well and the situation we’re in we need everyone ready to go through.”
PEP 💬 Ederson is fine and John Stones, no (not ready). pic.twitter.com/UBbYn17EGI
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 10, 2025
Playing against his hometown
Salford are home to several members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’, including Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, and will head to the Etihad on the back of seven wins in their last eight league games in a row. which lifted them to third place in League Two.
Guardiola was quick to praise boss Karl Robinson and his players and is looking forward to a local clash.
“I’ve lived in Salford for the last eight years, so we’ll be playing against my neighbourhood, my town I would say, where I live,” he said.
“(I have) a lot of respect for the coach. we played when he was at Oxford and when he was Sam Allardyce’s assistant at Leeds, and in the last six games, six wins, so much respect for them and what they do.
“We will take them seriously of course, as we have always done at this club since I came, and hopefully we can have a good game and make it a third win in a row. For a long time this did not happen.”
