Guardiola refuses to discuss Manchester City’s transfer targets

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Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola refused to discuss specific January targets despite suggestions the club are closing in on three new signings.

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.

There are reports there is progress on deals for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov and Palmeiras teenager Vitor Reis, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.

However, Guardiola gave nothing away when addressing the media ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup game against neighbors Salford.

When asked about possible transfer activity, he said: “Don’t ask me about it because I won’t answer.” All month long you’ll be asking the same questions about everything we’re associated with in the media, so I won’t talk about it. You can insist, I won’t answer because I don’t know the situation.

“We know we shouldn’t go to the transfer window, I don’t particularly like it. The situation that has happened this season with many, many, many injuries, we have to try to manage that because the situation is what it is. But what happens, I won’t talk because I don’t know.

“Of course I’m having discussions with the club, but about the process and events I don’t know what will happen because it’s so difficult. And what will happen will happen, otherwise I can’t say anything else.”

Was I not clear?

He specifically pushed Marmoush, saying, “Look, wasn’t my answer clear? Light up! I was clear in my answer; I won’t talk. He is a player from another club, I have no answer to that.

“You can say in every single press conference that you should talk about the transfer window until the end, I won’t answer a single question! Don’t act like that!

“The same thing happened before. I made myself clear, didn’t I? You can always try it, no problem at all, but you know my answer.”

Guardiola reveals little about Haaland

Neither John Stones nor Ruben Dias are fit enough to return tomorrow, although Ederson is available, while Guardiola refused to say whether top scorer Erling Haaland will be rested.

He said, “You’ll see tomorrow. He’s feeling good, he had a few problems on the first day but we’ve had seven days from West Ham to Salford to recover well and in the situation we’re in we all have to be ready for that to get along.”

Plays against his city

Salford, owned by several members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’ including Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, will gain promotion at the Etihad with seven wins in their last eight league games, a run that puts them in second Moved to third place in the league.

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 eight years so we’ll be playing against my neighbourhood, my city I would say, where I live,” he said.

“(I have) a lot of respect for the manager; We played when he was at Oxford and when he was assistant to Sam Allardyce at Leeds and six wins in the last six games, so much respect for them and what they do.

“We will of course take them seriously, as we have always done since I arrived at this club, and hopefully we can play a good game and get a third win in a row. “That hasn’t happened for a long time.”





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