Manchester City are open to waiting until the end of August to land a new midfielder but Pep Guardiola claimed that the Premier League champions will refuse to be held to ransom.
Julian Alvarez is on the verge of completing a switch to Atletico Madrid, worth up to £82million, and his imminent departure has left an available slot in Guardiola’s thin squad.
But with a wealth of talent in attacking areas, City’s need is for a more defensive-able midfielder capable of supplementing Rodri.
Mateo Kovacic is likely to fill Rodri’s spot in midfield for today’s Community Shield against Manchester United, with the Spain international and the England contingent expected back early next week after a post-Euros break.
‘We will see the chances at the end of the market, if a club needs to sell more than now for example, so I don’t know,’ Guardiola said.
Pep Guardiola has outlined his transfer plans with the return of the Premier League looming
‘Maybe a holding midfielder who can play central defender or a central defender who can play in the position of Rodri.’
Asked if there were any concerns at the spending of Arsenal and United in their quest to strengthen, the City boss added: ‘For many years [they] have done it. Many years. But it’s not news. It’s just when City spends more.’