2 days ago
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about the January transfer plans for the club
Pep Guardiola has ruled out a January spending spree for Manchester City to solve their latest injury crisis. The Blues are down to 13 fit outfield players after seeing both of their centre-backs pick up significant injuries against Chelsea.
City were already planning to sign Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo in a deal worth around £65m, with that move expected to be completed soon. However, the injury problems have forced the club to rethink whether to bring forward plans to challenge for the signing of Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Guehi came close to joining Liverpool last summer for around £35m but the transfer was blocked late on by Palace, who have instead been resigned to him leaving on a free transfer at the end of this season. City were looking to convince Guehi to join them in summer but could try to tempt Palace into a fee that is enough for them to give him up early.
Guardiola did not deny that City would do business in January but dismissed the notion of a repeat of last January, when the club brought in five players for £175m to rescue a season that was threatening to cost City a place in the Champions League for this season. Taking a swipe at their reputation for spending, City's manager played down the idea of lots of incomings.
"Maybe we will get something but it's completely different (to last year)," he said. "We are not going to buy four or five players like happened last season to be the [highest] net spend in this country. We are not, but apparently always we are."
Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was asked about Semenyo ahead of their match with Tottenham on Wednesday. "I think it could be the last game. That is my personal opinion, but there is nothing agreed and nothing signed," he said.
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