Pep Guardiola gives telling response amid Man City transfer chance - 'he says'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about Oscar Bobb's injury and transfer situation with a move on the cards

Pep Guardiola gave an abrupt response to questions about Oscar Bobb as Manchester City came to Norway without him. The 22-year-old has not featured for the Blues since coming off inside 20 minutes in the League Cup win over Brentford in December.

Guardiola has suggested since that the player's injury was not helped by him not being ready to play, and was in even less of a mood to discuss the winger as City arrived in the country where Bobb hails from. Asked about his injury, the manager said: "He says he's not fit so he's not fit."

Bobb has fallen down the pecking order at City after failing to impress this season. He missed the chance to shine when given a rare start in the Champions League game at home to Leverkusen; after being taken off at half-time in that game, he was excluded from a number of squads after that before being reinstated for the Brentford match.

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City have been willing to let Bobb leave this month, either on loan or for a permanent deal, and the signing of Antoine Semenyo provides further competition for him to make it at the Etihad. Guardiola said he had 'no idea' if Bobb would leave in the January transfer window in a dismissive response.

While Bobb is not playing through injury, Phil Foden could feature for City on Tuesday despite breaking a bone in his hand during the Manchester derby. Guardiola said on Saturday that his half-time substitution had not been down to injury but it turns out that the 25-year-old has suffered a fracture but has strapped it up and is available for selection.

City are looking to move closer to securing a top-eight finish in their game with Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday teatime. They currently sit in fourth place in the 36-team table and can put one foot in the last-16 ahead of their final match in this first phase at home to Galatasaray next week.