Pep Guardiola has made it clear that Manchester City will not repeat last season’s heavy January spending, despite dealing with a growing injury crisis. Speaking earlier today, the City boss addressed transfer speculation following the dramatic draw with Chelsea at the Etihad, a match that further exposed the strain on his squad, as reported by SoftFootball.
With City currently limited to around 13 fit outfield players, questions had been raised about whether the club would again turn to the market in force. Guardiola acknowledged in a post shared by Fabrizio Romano on his official X account that additions are possible but stressed that the situation is very different from last year, when City spent heavily to steady their campaign.
Fabrizio Romano posted:
Pep Guardiola on January signings for Man City: Maybe we’ll get something, but it’s completely different to last season. We are NOT going to buy four or five players like what happened last season, via @City_Xtra.
His comments underline City’s intention to act with restraint rather than panic. One deal that appears close is the move for Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, with SoftFootball reporting that City are edging towards a £65 million agreement.
Guardiola’s comments suggest this transfer was already planned before recent injuries, aimed at strengthening attacking options rather than reshaping the squad. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has also hinted at a possible exit, noting that it could be the last game for the player, even though nothing has been signed yet.
City’s defensive issues have also revived interest in Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi. As highlighted by SoftFootball, Guehi is expected to leave Palace as a free agent in 2026 after rejecting a new deal.
With both of City’s starting centre backs injured, Guardiola’s side may now explore whether an early move is possible, even though Palace previously blocked a summer transfer.
Throughout the discussion, Guardiola returned to a familiar theme. He prefers quality over quantity and has long resisted managing an oversized squad. In past interviews, he has openly said he does not want players left unused for long periods, reinforcing why City are reluctant to sign multiple players in one window.
While Guardiola admitted that last January’s signings were vital, he believes this season requires a calmer approach. City will look to add smartly, trust their core group, and avoid repeating a costly spending spree that does not fit their long-term vision.
