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Pep Guardiola suggests Manchester City’s summer transfer business is complete

The City manager insists further signings have not been ruled out but this week's club-record deal for defender Ruben Dias looks to be the last for the time being

Andy Hampson
Thursday 01 October 2020 12:20 BST
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (Pool via REUTERS)

Pep Guardiola is not expecting to make any more additions to his Manchester City squad before next week's transfer deadline.

The City manager insists further signings have not been ruled out but this week's club-record deal for defender Ruben Dias looks to be the last for the time being.

Dias joined City from Benfica on Tuesday in a deal worth £62million plus a potential £3.2million in add-ons.

His signing followed those of fellow defender Nathan Ake and winger Ferran Torres earlier in the summer for £40million and £20million respectively.

"I think it will be over," said Guardiola, whose side eased into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 win at Burnley on Wednesday.

"I don't know - maybe someone will want to leave. So we will see what happens until the end."

The arrival of Dias, soon after bringing in Ake from Bournemouth, ends City's long search for central defensive reinforcements.

City's lack of depth in the position last season, following the departure of Vincent Kompany and injury to Aymeric Laporte, proved costly as they failed to mount a strong title challenge to Liverpool.

Guardiola is confident Portugal international Dias, 23, will prove a huge success at the club.

He said: "We know his personality and I'm pretty sure he will be an incredible player for this club for the next five, six, seven years.

"He will start on Thursday to train with us and we'll try to get him ready as quickly as possible to play in the games."

As Dias came in, Nicolas Otamendi moved in the opposite direction, joining Benfica for £13.6million.

Guardiola paid tribute to the 32-year-old.

He said: "He was part of the incredible success we had and the consistency of the last years. If Nico had an ankle broken he was ready to play.

"He is an incredibly nice guy and the season when we won the Premier League with 100 points he was the key player for us in the back four. He helped us incredibly.

"We felt we need to put a young squad (together), we arrived with a lot of players more than 30, but my absolute gratitude is for what he has done for this club, especially for me as a manager.

“He will always be part of my best memories in Manchester.”

PA

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