'Impossible' for Manchester City to buy expensive striker, Guardiola claims

Pep Guardiola has claimed it will be “impossible” for Manchester City to afford a high-profile replacement for their outgoing record goalscorer Sergio Agüero this summer.

In comments some may interpret as a message that the Premier League leaders will not be held to ransom, City’s manager indicated he may promote from within.

Related: Leicester City v Manchester City: match preview

This week it emerged that Agüero, who has scored 257 times for City, is to leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract runs out. That prompted a flurry of rumours, suggesting Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé had joined Erling Haaland on Guardiola’s shopping list, but the manager endeavoured to dampen speculation regarding potential £100m-plus acquisitions. Borussia Dortmund have indicated they want at least €150m (£128m) for Haaland.

“There is a lot of big chances that maybe we are not going to sign a striker for next season,” Guardiola said before his quadruple-chasing side’s trip to Leicester on Saturday evening.

“Listen, with these prices we are not going to sign any striker – we cannot afford it, it’s impossible. That’s not going to happen, no. All the clubs struggle financially and we are not an exception. We have Gabriel [Jesus] and Ferran [Torres] who played incredible in this position this season.

“We have enough players in the first team right now and we have interesting players in the academy. And we have played, many, many, times with a false nine.

“There is a big chance, with the situation in the world, the economic problems in world football, we are not going to sign any striker for next season.”

Despite Guardiola’s stance and the precarious, pandemic-affected finances at even football’s biggest clubs, that would still represent a major surprise. Conversely, Agüero’s injury problems this season have dictated City have frequently played – and prospered – without a specialised centre-forward.

Whoever ends up taking Aguero’s place in the squad will have sizeable boots to fill. “These decisions are never easy,” Guardiola said as he reflected on his impending parting of the ways with the 32-year-old. “Maybe we could find a new player to replace Sergio in terms of numbers but it is almost impossible to replace him in terms of what he means to this club.”

Leicester’s former City striker Kelechi Iheanacho may have a point to prove on Saturday. The Nigerian has seven goals in his past four games for Brendan Rodgers’ side and Guardiola seemed delighted by his progress since departing Manchester four years ago.

“Incredible,” he said. “The quality was there. He was a young player here and I think with Gabriel [Jesus] we didn’t have enough space. He is a fantastic person, we had a good relationship, and I’m glad to see him playing well.”