Manchester City won’t overspend on transfer targets, warns Guardiola

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are targeting two signings but will not be held to ransom over fees. The Premier League champions are open to bringing in a central midfielder and a striker to boost a squad set to lose Julián Álvarez to Atlético Madrid.

City face Manchester United on Saturday in the Community Shield without Rodri, who is yet to return from holiday after winning the European Championship. Guardiola believes he may need to sign someone to help alleviate the Spain midfielder’s workload, as well as find a replacement for Álvarez.

Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães was a target but City were put off by his £100m valuation. “If I have some concerns I speak with Txiki [Begiristain],” Guardiola said. “We will see but we would not want to spend a lot of money on players who would not play many games. If we need someone, it has to be the right price.”

Without Álvarez City will not have a second senior striker, with Guardiola joking he might play himself if Haaland is absent. “Maybe there are guys who think they can compete with Haaland and will come,” the manager said. “We will see at the end of the market if a club needs to sell more than they do now. We made a good transfer market in terms of good financial issues and clubs are waiting with a red carpet for us.”

Álvarez will be the second player from last season’s first-team squad to depart City this summer, after Sergio Gómez left for Real Sociedad. The club have made a profit on Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Liam Delap, and have bought only the Brazilian winger Savinho from Troyes. Ederson is staying despite interest from Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia and will start at Wembley, and the second-choice goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega, has signed a new deal.

“It’s a huge relief that Eddy and Stefan stayed,” Guardiola said. “Replacing the keeper is always tricky to find the way we play, so I’m really pleased that he stays and congratulations to Stefan for deserving an extended contract for how good he has been in two years.”

There has been much debate over whether Guardiola will stay beyond this season but the manager insists he is revitalised after the break. “In the summer I am drained but when I arrive at the start of training sessions and play some in pre-season and see what we can do differently or what suits one player better than the others, let’s go,” he said. “I don’t have to run so I can sustain the situation. Every year it gets more and more difficult. Everyone wants the crown that we have worn for four years. I understand it – it’s how we defend it.”