Manchester City cannot make many signings due to “financial issues”, insists Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has insisted that “financial issues” would prevent Manchester City from making a significant number of new signings this summer.

Etihad Stadium officials have finalised and confirmed just one signing so far this summer, with Savinho joining the club from City Football Group sister club Troyes in France, in a deal that could rise to a total of £33.6 million.

There is a belief that City are not yet done in the market however, with clear interest in recruiting in the centre of the park despite already turning down the chance to finalise a deal for Bruno Guimaraes via the activation of the player’s £100 million release clause.

Manchester City remain interested in the signing of Savinho’s Brazil international teammate, but are likely to have to negotiate Newcastle towards terms that are more suited to them, and rely on a slight push from the player in order to see a deal cross the finish line.

While some supporters may feel as though more than two signings are needed across the squad, the ongoing summer transfer window is unlikely to see major change to a side that has won six trophies in the last two seasons, including the UEFA Champions League.

Speaking on the subject of the ongoing market, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been keen to explain why the Premier League champions cannot make wholesale changes to their first-team squad in one window.

“To bring one or two new players to bring something fresh is necessary. It’s not necessary to put seven, eight players,” Guardiola insisted. “You cannot, with financial issues, change six, seven players. It’s unsustainable, it’s impossible. We have to be smart.”

Whilst Manchester City are able to boast a long list of new signings into their squad over the course of Pep Guardiola’s tenure, the Catalan boss has claimed that there would be an even longer list of names that they have been unable to recruit.

“Many players want to come [to Manchester City], but we didn’t get an agreement with clubs because they ask for a so, so high price,” he continued. “I have a long, long list. I think we have a more longer list of players that we failed to bring here, than players that we brought here.”

Pep Guardiola is currently operating with a much-changed squad over in the United States during the club’s pre-season tour of the country’s east coast, but only through a stronger influx of youth academy talents being granted opportunities.

After a 3-4 defeat to Celtic in the club’s opener in North Carolina, featuring several first-team debuts for rising Academy talents, Manchester City still have a further three games on their agenda for the remainder of the tour.

The Premier League champions have now touched down in New York City ahead of a meeting with Italian giants AC Milan at the iconic Yankee Stadium, whilst the final two games will see the club meet with FC Barcelona and Chelsea.