“We have the squad” – Pep Guardiola rules out January transfer business

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By Martin Graham | 9th Nov 2022

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that his club will not be partaking in any transfer dealings in the winter window when January 2023 comes round.

The Spaniard stated this to reporters ahead of his side’s EFL cup match against Chelsea on Wednesday. “We are not going to sign anyone in January. We have the squad,” Guardiola told reporters at the press conference when asked what his plans are for the upcoming transfer window.

The Premier League defending champions lost a few high profile names over the summer and were involved in some last minute transfer dealings, signing Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund on transfer deadline day. That seems to be the last piece of business for Guardiola for the 2022/23 season, in which he is currently playing catch up to his former protégé, Mikel Arteta.

Akanji joined former Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips who joined from Leeds United, Sergio Gomez who joined from RSC Anderlecht in Belgium, and Stefan Ortega who joined from Arminia Bielefeld in Germany. Julian Alvarez also linked up with his teammates, six months after signing for Manchester City and being loaned back to River Plate, the club he was signed from.

All of these dealings cost City a combined €139.5 million, which makes it one of the Manchester club’s most prudent transfer windows since the Saudis took over the club in 2008.

The transfers in were like-for-like replacements for the departing Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Fernandinho, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Zack Steffen (loan to Middlesbrough). The summer business also made City €3.9 million in profit.

The signings have strengthened the team exponentially, with Haaland scoring at a rate the Premier League has never seen before – 18 goals in 12 appearances – and Akanji ousting the trusty centreback options of Guardiola to become first choice for the past couple of games.

Guardiola also spoke about the manner of Raheem Sterling’s exit from Etihad ahead of his reunion with his former charge. The Englishman joined Chelsea in the summer and spoke recently about leaving the Etihad because he was not feeling important anymore.

The City boss chose instead to focus on the positives of the pair’s time together while wishing his former charge happiness in his new adventure.

“I watch a few games, I didn’t see [all of them]. It doesn’t matter what he’s playing or doing, my opinion of him obviously you know it,” Guardiola said.

“I cannot judge, the case happened with Zack Steffen in the Championship, Oleks [Zinchenko], Gabby [Jesus], Raheem, I wish all the best. My credit to all of them, this guy especially is immense, what they have done for the club. Hats off, I wish him all the best and hope he’s happy.”

Guardiola will also receive a boost as Phillips, who has battled injuries since signing in the summer, has been given the medical green light to return to the squad for the match against Chelsea.