Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his side can sign a central defender in the next fortnight ‘if we believe we can’.
Vincent Kompany’s departure has left Guardiola with three senior centre-backs at the club and Metro.co.uk understands the Spaniard identified Harry Maguire as an ideal replacement for the Belgian at the start of the summer.
However, City are refusing to meet Leicester’s £80m valuation of Maguire and, though Guardiola backs his club’s stance, he is refusing to give up on signing the England international.
The former Barcelona boss was quizzed on his plans for the remainder of the transfer window after today’s win against Yokahoma Marinos and Guardiola insists the club can sign a centre-back if they ‘believe’.
‘If we believe we can,’ insisted Guardiola.
‘If not we will survive without a new central defender.’
Metro.co.uk revealed earlier this month that Taylor Harwood-Bellis had impressed on City’s pre-season tour and Guardiola said last week that the defender and team-mate Eric Garcia would be given game time if they fail to sign Maguire.
Rodri remains the club’s only major signing so far this summer but Guardiola insists there’s not much business to be done.
‘No, not many. I like the faces that we have,’ said Guardiola, after being asked about the remainder of the window.
‘The transfer market is so difficult and the team is good enough. Maybe zero, maybe one, maybe one and a half.’
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