Pep Guardiola issues tetchy response to new Manchester City transfer question | OneFootball

A line of questioning surrounding Manchester City’s transfer plans for the summer both in the way of arrivals and departures left Pep Guardiola somewhat irritated.

The Etihad Stadium head coach has been speaking ahead of his side’s final match of the Premier League season, and a campaign as a whole that is due to conclude without too much to celebrate about.

A last-minute hope for major silverware came and went without success as Manchester City fell to a single Eberechi Eze goal in the FA Cup Final, in what would be their second successive defeat at that stage of the competition – a stage they have reached three years in a row.

In the Premier League, a significantly poor run of results across November and December in particular meant that City failed to mount a serious pursuit and challenge of the division title, leaving them scrambling for a top-five finish this weekend.

Recording a place in that leading pack of teams would mean that Manchester City would secure themselves a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League, having failed to reach the last-16 of the tournament for the first time since 2012 this season.

Speaking to reporters ahead of City’s final Premier League game of the season, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on what the club has in store for the summer, particularly how many of his existing squad members could leave over the coming weeks and months.

“We will see. Now I’m just focussed on Sunday, and after the Club will take the decisions that they have to take,” Guardiola said when quizzed on how the current squad could change over the course of the summer.

When pressed for a response regarding just how many names could be moved out of the team, Guardiola continued, “Listen, if I would know it, I’m pretty sure – and I admire you a lot – I would not tell you, that’s for sure.

“Do you expect I am going to tell you there is four, five players, I’m going to tell you the names that are going to leave, or the signings that are going to come? Do you expect that I am going to tell you this today, now?! When we are playing that [Champions League football],” he added.

“Do you think in the question I am going to answer you after how many years we are together here, I’m going to tell you how many players are going to leave, before a massively important game for all of us. Come on! It’s not going to happen that, you should know it.”

One name that has already been confirmed as a pending departure is Kevin De Bruyne, who will be free to select a new opportunity in the game after Manchester City opted not to offer renewed terms to the player beyond the end of June.

A successor to the Belgian will likely be required, although officials in recruitment at the Etihad Stadium have withdrawn interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, leaving the German playmaker open to a move to Bayern Munich, Liverpool, or Real Madrid.

A further central player is also expected to be brought in with AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders viewed as a serious target, while reinforcements in both full-back roles are anticipated, with Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento the number one profile on the right.