Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola refused to discuss specific January targets despite suggestions the club could close in on three new arrivals.

City have struggled with injuries in the first half of the season and are sixth in the Premier League table, although their recent form has improved following back-to-back wins over Leicester and West Ham.

Reports suggest that deals are progressing for Lens defenders Abdukodir Khusanov and Palmeiras teenager Vitor Reis, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.

Guardiola, however, gave nothing away as he addressed the media ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup tie with neighbors Salford.

Asked about any potential transfer activity, he said: “Don’t ask me about that because I’m not going to (answer). All month you’ll be asking the same thing about what we’re associated with in the media, so I’m not going to talk. You may insist, I’m not going to answer because I don’t know the situation.

“We know we shouldn’t go to the transfer window, I don’t like it very much. The way things have been this season with the many, many, many injuries, we have to try to do it as the situation is. But what happens, I’m not going to talk because I don’t know.

“Of course I have a conversation with the club but the process and what is happening, I don’t know what is going to happen because it is very difficult. And what’s going to happen is going to happen, otherwise I can’t say anything else.

Was I not clear?

Pressing Marmosh specifically, he said: “Listen, wasn’t I clear in my answer? Come on! I was clear in my answer; I’m not going to talk. He is a player from another club, I am not saying the answer.

“You can say in every single press conference that talk about the transfer window until the end, I’m not going to answer a question! Don’t go like that!

“In the past, that’s what happened. I was clear, right? You can try anytime you want, no problem, but you know my answer.

Guardiola is giving away a little on Haaland

Neither John Stones nor Ruben Dias are fit enough to return tomorrow, although Ederson is available, while Guardiola refused to say whether top scorer Erling Haaland would be rested.

He said: “You’ll see tomorrow. He feels good, he had a bit of trouble the first day but we’ve got seven days from West Ham to Salford to recover well, and everyone to be ready to go through the situation we have. need

PEP 💬 Ederson is OK and John Stones, no (he’s not ready). pic.twitter.com/UBbYn17EGI

— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 10, 2025

Plays against his town

Salford are owned by several members of Manchester United’s ‘Class of 92’, including Gary Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, and will rock at the Etihad on the back of seven wins in their last eight league games. Because of which they have reached the third position in League Two.

Guardiola was quick to praise boss Karl Robinson and his players and is looking forward to the domestic clash.

“I’ve lived in Salford for the last eight years, so we’ll be playing against my neighbourhood, my town I say, where I live,” he said.

“(I) have a lot of respect for the manager; We played when he was at Oxford, and when he was Sam Allardyce’s assistant at Leeds, and six wins in the last six games, a lot of respect for him and what he does.

“We will take them seriously, as we have always done at this club since I arrived, and hopefully we can have a good game and get a third win in a row. This did not happen for long. “