Man City will not replace David Silva with a new signing, insists Pep Guardiola

Guardioa: "I don't think I'm going to buy because I have enough."
Getty Images

Pep Guardiola has ruled out entering the transfer market to replace David Silva.

Silva will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, but the Premier League champions have no plans to recruit a marquee signing to fill the void left by one of the club’s greatest ever players.

Guardiola will instead focus his attention on a top-class central defender and could also move for a left-back.

That is good news for Phil Foden, as well as England manager Gareth Southgate, with the teenager finally set to be given the chance to establish himself in City’s first team.

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Silva is out of contract at the end of season and has already confirmed his intention to walk away after 10 years at the Etihad.

And Guardiola has confirmed he intends to give his existing players chance to make up for the 33-year-old’s absence.

“I don't think we're going to do anything in this position, I don't think we will sign anyone,” he said. “Maybe I will change my mind it depends on the next six months, but I have other priorities and I don't think I'm going to buy because I have enough.

“Bernardo can play there, Phil is there, we have (Ilkay) Gundogan, we have Kevin (De Bruyne) so I don't think we will do anything in this position. That is my thought today, we will see at the end of the season.”

Guardiola added that he won’t try to change Silva’s mind after failing to talk Vincent Kompany out of departing last term.

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“I think when these kind of guys take this decision the decision is taken,” he said. “I tried to convince Vincent a lot to stay one more year with us - a lot.

“In the last weeks, I said 'no, no, no you are not going to leave me' but he left me. When these guys take the decision it is taken.”

It’s set to be a summer of change at City, with Guardiola potentially bringing in another assistant to replace Mikel Arteta, while Fernandinho looks increasingly likely to follow Silva through the exit door.

They will also have to think about a long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero, who is entering the last 18 months of his deal.

But Guardiola admits it will be near-impossible to fill the 31-year-old’s boots.

AFP via Getty Images

“It will be one of the toughest (jobs)” he said. “Sergio is irreplaceable. We have another incredible striker in Gabriel (Jesus) and maybe another one will come when Sergio leaves, but he is irreplaceable.

“The most important moment of this club - more important than when this club hopefully wins the Champions League - is when Sergio scored that goal against QPR. That moment is much better than four titles in one season or whatever and he was the guy.

“Sooner or later it will happen, he’ll decide when (he leaves). I’m sure the club will be ready to try to find the guy to replace him, but of course it will not be easy.

“I’ve never seen such a big star like him be so humble, so funny, and it is a joy to work with him and how he accepts my decisions when it sometimes doesn't work for him. Big stars don’t accept that.

“I’ve worked with other stars who believe they were bigger than Sergio when they weren't and they were more difficult to handle and to be with. It’s not easy to find a guy with his status, his personality, what he’s done in his career with his humility and accepting everything perfectly.”

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