Borussia Dortmund have attempted to clarify a clause in Jadon Sancho’s contract ,after reports emerged that the youngster could return to Manchester City.
MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City will not make any new signings when the transfer window opens in January.
Guardiola will be without left-back Benjamin Mendy for up to 12 weeks after the France international had surgery on an injury to his left knee.
Midfielders Fabian Delph and Oleksandr Zinchenko are set deputise at left-back, as they did when Mendy was ruled out for seven months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury last season.
“No, no. We are not going to spend anything,” Guardiola told a news conference ahead of Saturday’s game at West Ham. “I am so happy with the squad, people are coming back, so no.”
City have been linked with a holding midfielder after missing out on Jorginho, who moved to Chelsea in the summer.
Ajax’s Frenkie De Jong has been scouted by City as a player with the potential to offer competition for Fernandinho, but sources have told ESPN FC that they are ready to wait until the summer.
Guardiola said he would have to manage how much to call on Fernandinho, 33, the only defensive midfielder at the club.
“He will need a rest, definitely, now he is not with the [Brazil] national team,” the manager said.
“David [Silva], Sergio [Aguero], Fernandinho have had eight days off. That is a good recovery from four, five, six games in a row. He cannot play 10 games every three days — it’s impossible.”
Guardiola said his decision to not sign any new players was because he needed to show trust to the players waiting for their opportunity.
“When we created the squad at the beginning of the season it was not to go to the January window except if we have problems,” he added.
“But I have a deep squad and a lot of players cannot play when I trust them a lot, they believe I don’t like them but that is not true.
“I trust a lot in all the players, it’s a joy to be with them but it is what it is. When there are some injuries another one is going to play, if not you have a few players in the academy that maybe are going to help us in a few moments or few minutes.
“We are not going to go to January in the market, no way.”
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