Pep Guardiola has declared himself happy with his Manchester City squad despite the club’s failure to bring in a high-profile striker.
City were heavily linked with Harry Kane for most of the summer and then, briefly, with Cristiano Ronaldo after it became clear a deal with Tottenham for the England captain would not materialise.
Kane announced earlier in the week he would be staying with Spurs this summer while Ronaldo, who was offered to City, is set to return to Manchester United from Juventus.
City only have four days before Tuesday’s transfer deadline to bring in another forward. The club have been in the market for a regular goalscorer since the departure of Sergio Aguero at the end of last season.
Yet after landing another attacking midfielder in Jack Grealish for a record £100million deal earlier in the summer, Guardiola is convinced he has enough firepower at his disposal.
He said: “I am incredibly happy with the squad I have, more than satisfied. We are the same squad except one player leaves, Sergio, and we have Jack.
“Anything can happen but, my opinion right now, today, is everything will finish like it is now and that’s good enough.”
Guardiola’s comments would also appear to limit the chances of any departures from his squad. Guardiola confirmed earlier this month some players, including Bernardo Silva, had indicated a desire to leave but they could only do so if the conditions were right for the club.
“Right now I don’t think so,” said Guardiola when asked at a press conference if any players might move on.
There had been speculation 18-year-old striker Liam Delap could move out on loan but City have kept him at the club, suggesting he could get a first-team opportunity this season.
Already this season City have played Ferran Torres, signed as a winger last year, as a centre forward.
“Of course he’ll be a part,” said Guardiola of Delap. “We cannot forget how good we have done in the recent past with the same squad that we have.
“Always we try, like all the clubs, to improve and get better but we have four or five players from the academy we can count on and Liam is one of them.
“Unfortunately he was not with us in pre-season because he was injured but we have many players who can play in that position – Raheem (Sterling), Ferran, Gabriel (Jesus), Riyad (Mahrez), even Jack Grealish. We can find alternatives.”
