Guardiola fears Manchester City could miss out on transfer targets without Champions League football
Pep Guardiola has admitted Manchester City could miss out on summer transfer targets if the club fails to qualify for the Champions League.
City are currently fifth in the Premier League ahead of a trip to Everton on Saturday afternoon, and are in the last four of the FA Cup.
With six league games remaining, Guardiola’s side need to finish in the top five to secure a Champions League place, but with both Chelsea and Aston Villa just a point behind them, City are far from guaranteed a spot.
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After dominating the domestic scene over the last few years – including four successive Premier League titles – City have struggled this season and endured a disastrous end to 2024 where they won just once in 13 matches in all competitions.
Results and performances have picked up over the last few months, but Guardiola’s squad is still expected to undergo a major revamp in the summer, not least due to confirmed departure of midfield talisman Kevin De Bruyne.
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But the City boss fears the club could struggle to land their priority signings if they are not playing in European club football’s elite competition.
“It depends on the players we want and whether they just have one option,” Guardiola said.
“If they have many, I’m pretty sure the players take a look at the ones in the Champions League, of course.
“Maybe players come anyway and there are other ones who say they don’t want to go because of no Champions League. I don’t know. I didn’t speak with one player potentially for the next season so I don’t know.”
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On the prospect of some of City’s current crop of players departing if Champions League football is not achieved, Guardiola added: “They have contracts. Except Kevin [De Bruyne], all the other have contracts.
“The club and organisation decide what is the best. The club is working of course behind the scenes what they have to do, but I’m concerned about these six [Premier League] games and FA Cup.
“After that, one week, 10 days off, fifth of June start again with seven days before flying to the United States and preparing for the [Club] World Cup.”
