This archive report was first published on 3 December 2019.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made it clear that the club will not be making any signings in January. However, he has acknowledged that the squad will need to be refreshed at the end of the season.
Guardiola's comments come as the club struggles to find a suitable replacement for captain Vincent Kompany, who left the club in the summer. The loss of Aymeric Laporte to injury has left Guardiola with just two senior centre back options in John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi.
Despite being linked with Leicester City's Caglar Soyuncu, Guardiola has expressed his faith in 34-year-old Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho, who has been deployed at centre back in recent months.
"I don't want any players in January," Guardiola told reporters. "We could not sign a centre back (in the summer). Nico (Otamendi) continued and we decided to adapt Fernandinho in this position and that's all."
Guardiola also acknowledged that the club will need to replace players who are out of contract at the end of the season, including Spanish midfielder David Silva, who has already confirmed his decision to leave.
"There will be a need to regenerate," Guardiola added. "David has confirmed he is leaving. Fernandinho doesn't know, but it's normal when players reach this age and stage in their lives. Of course, we have to replace them (if they leave)."
Manchester City, who have slipped to third in the Premier League, 11 points behind leaders Liverpool, visit Burnley later on Tuesday.
