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Pep Guardiola suggested that the economic consequences of the pandemic will prevent Manchester City from buying a striker in the January transfer window.
The Blues were interested in signing a striker in the summer, but the money was being used elsewhere to strengthen the defense (Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake came at a combined cost of over £ 100 million) and the club made a conscious effort to keep net spending low. The decision was made not to add another marquee forward.
Sergio Agüero is out of contract at the end of the season and a decision on his future has yet to be made, although the club will prioritize a new forward in the summer window; The funds are in place to bring Lionel Messi in case he becomes available in Barcelona, while Erling Haaland is drawing attention with his performances for Dortmund.
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City have struggled all season up front for goals, and Guardiola is still not happy with the waste in front of goal. The team has also been paralyzed by the absence of Agüero and Gabriel Jesús for much of the campaign.
On Saturday, the Blues re-lined up without either of their two center-forwards on the team due to fitness issues and while Jesus isn’t expected to be out for long, Aguero’s knee is proving to be so troublesome that it hard to wait when he will return. at its best.
Manchester City won three vital points in Southampton.
Pep Guardiola’s team traveled to face a Saints team that was flying high in the Premier League and coming off a bad draw at home against West Brom.
Raheem Sterling’s goal in the first half was enough to give the Blues three points. They will now prepare to visit Arsenal and bid for a place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
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With a new striker as the most obvious solution to the goal shortage, Guardiola was asked if the club might be looking to move in January to bring in someone in an attempt to solve their problem. However, the city chief indicated that they would not be in a position to do so.
“I don’t think so because the economic-financial situation of all the clubs in the world is what it is,” he said. “All clubs fight and we are no exception.”
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