Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his club have to be “quicker” in the transfer market than his elite rivals in Europe.
City were reportedly in pursuit of Ajax midfielder Frenkie de Jong who headed to Barcelona this month where he will pocket a hefty weekly wage packet worth £300,000.
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- Guardiola wanted Marc-Andre ter Stegen when he arrived at the Etihad but ended up with Claudio Bravo, who is still No.2 at the club.
- The Spaniard also missed out on World Cup winner Paul Pogba who favoured a return to Old Trafford instead.
- Man City actively courted Fred and Jorginho before losing out to Man United and Chelsea respectively.
- The defending Premier League champions were also linked with a move for De Jong, before Barcelona confirmed his signing.
- And Guardiola has insisted his side need to be less nervous in the market.
“We have to be quicker, faster and don’t get nervous,” Guardiola told the BBC.
But asked how exactly City can become quicker and more efficient in the market, he replied: “I don’t know.
Despite City’s alleged sluggishness in the market, the club has shelled out over £1.4bn on players over the last decade according to research conducted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Guardiola also insisted that “everybody” can afford high wages and fees, admitting City have to be smarter in future windows.
He added: “Everybody can pay a lot in fees and wages. Before the rumours were that it was just Paris St-Germain and Manchester City. That is over.
“The others are quicker and smarter, like we try to do. There are many and sometimes we can’t compete with that. We have to be quicker and smarter and try to buy the players. We have to adapt.
“It’s difficult to buy top, top players at a good price. It’s almost impossible.
“Maybe we have to trust in the young players and help them develop their own personality here.”
Guardiola hints at quiet 2019 for transfers
Guardiola has hinted that his club will not be making any forays into the transfer market this month and they could have a quiet summer, too.
He said: “In the market there are many players, in positions we need, but even next season if we can’t take anyone then the squad remains good.
“I’m so satisfied for what City has done. We’ll see what happens in the summer. We’ll see the behaviour of the players in the locker room, their desire to stay and help the club – not just me and their mates. It’ll be important.”
Despite this possibility, Guardiola did not give any more opportunities to the burgeoning talent in City’s academy in the FA Cup fourth round against Burnley.
After starting several youngsters against Burton in the League Cup midweek, City started against Burnley with their strongest side.
Guardiola ruled out including academy players prior to kick off, stating: “We want to win tomorrow. That’s the only thing I can assure you of. The other stuff is fantasy. Tomorrow we’re not playing anyone from the academy.
“Always we believe in what we’ve done and what we do, always we believe, we don’t need good results, they help – I cannot deny that – but we believe in what we are trying to do.”
The post Man City’s rivals are quicker and smarter at transfers, says Pep Guardiola appeared first on Squawka News.
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