Pep Guardiola has suggested that Manchester City are approaching the January 2026 transfer window with a flexible mindset, carefully monitoring the current state of the squad as the season progresses.
While no firm decisions have been made, the club continues to assess areas that may need reinforcement, taking into account form, fitness, and upcoming scheduling demands.
Looking back at January 2025, Guardiola, as reported by Fabrizio Romano via his official X account, admitted that even he was surprised by how active City became.
He said:
Pep Guardiola on the January window: Everything can happen. Last season, when we started it, I never could’ve expected going into the transfer window with four or five players being signed.
That particular window saw City spend more than €150 million, bringing in Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico González. Guardiola described it as an exceptional situation, driven largely by injuries and a squad that felt unbalanced at the time.
Fast forward to the current season, and City are once again assessing their options. The summer already brought major changes, with the arrivals of Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Gianluigi Donnarumma reshaping the group. Still, Guardiola hasn’t ruled out further movement.
Softfootball understands that Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo has been strongly linked with Manchester City, valued for his pace, physicality and ability to operate across the frontline.
Injuries and international commitments are complicating matters. The AFCON absences of Rayan Ait-Nouri and Omar Marmoush could test City’s depth in key areas. Even so, Guardiola remains firm on one principle: quality over quantity.
Financially, Manchester City is comfortable; they still have room within PSR regulations. Possible exits, including Kalvin Phillips and Stefan Ortega, along with loan interest in Oscar Bobb, could also free space and wages.
So when Guardiola stated that everything can happen, it’s not hype. It’s a cautious ambition. Nothing promised, nothing ruled out either.
