Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola refused to discuss specific January targets despite suggestions the club are closing in on three new arrivals.
City have struggled with injuries over the first half of the season and lie sixth in the Premier League table, although their recent form has improved following back-to-back wins over Leicester and West Ham.
Reports suggest progress is being made on deals for defenders Abdukodir Khusanov of Lens and Palmeiras teenager Vitor Reis as well as Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.
Guardiola, however, was giving nothing away when he addressed the media prior to tomorrow’s FA Cup tie with neighbours Salford.
Asked about any potential transfer activity, he said: “Don’t ask me about that because I’m not going [to answer]. All month you’re going to ask the same about all we are linked with in the media, so I’m not going to talk. You can insist, I’m not going to answer because I don’t know the situation.
“We know we should not go to the transfer window, I don’t like it much. The situation that’s happened this season with many, many, many injuries, we have to try to do it because the situation is what it is. But what happens, I’m not going to talk because I don’t know.
“Of course I have conversations with the club but the process and what’s happening, I don’t know what’s going to happen because it’s so difficult. And what is going to happen is going to happen, otherwise I cannot say anything else.”
Was I not clear?
Pressed on Marmoush specifically, he said: “Listen, was I not clear in my answer? Come on! I was clear in my answer; I’m not going to talk. He’s a player from another club, I’m not saying an answer.
“You can say in every single press conference to talk about the transfer window until the end, I’m not going to answer one question! Don’t go in that way!
“In the past, the same happened. I was clear, right? You can try it any time you want, no problem at all, but you know my answer.”
Guardiola giving little away on Haaland
Neither John Stones nor Ruben Dias are fit enough to return tomorrow, although Ederson is available, while Guardiola refused to say if top scorer Erling Haaland will be rested.
He said: “You will see tomorrow. He feels good, he had some niggles on the first day but we had seven days from West Ham to Salford to recover well, and the situation that we have we need everyone ready to go through.”
PEP 💬 Ederson is fine and John Stones, no [he is not ready]. pic.twitter.com/UBbYn17EGI
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 10, 2025
Playing against his town
Salford are owned by several members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’, including Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, and will rock up at the Etihad on the back of seven wins in their last eight league games, a run that has propelled them up to third in League Two.
Guardiola was quick to praise boss Karl Robinson and his players and is looking forward to a local skirmish.
“I’ve lived in Salford for the last eight years, so we will play against my neighbourhood, my town I would say, where I’m living,” he said.
“[I have] a lot of respect for the manager; we played when he was in Oxford, and when he was assistant to Sam Allardyce at Leeds, and in the last six games, six victories, so huge respect for them and what they do.
“We’ll take them seriously of course, like always we have done in this club since I arrived, and hopefully we can do a good game and make a third victory in a row. A long time this didn’t happen.”