The Manchester City Coach, Pep Guardiola reported that, Manchester City “are not going to pay £100m for a holding midfielder” such as Rúben Neves of Wolves or any other similar footballer to provide competition for Fernandinho.

City are at home to Wolves in the evening today, with the champions not likely to strengthen in defensive midfield regardless of Guardiola’s wish to add a second specialist in the position.

Although, Fernandinho will turn 34 years old by the end of the season, Guardiola reported that, City do not presently have the finance to buy a replacement.

When the media put to him that Rúben Neves might be the type required, Guardiola replied that: “He is an excellent player but there are many clubs in the world, many holding midfielders in the world, and most of them can play here. That’s not the point".

“Most of them are under contracts. A month ago, I started reading – ‘Rúben Neves, £100m’. That is not going to happen, we are not going to pay £100m for a holding midfielder. Of course, in all departments in the club, we have in every position four or five or six options – depending on age, what we believe and, of course, the price".

“The most expensive one was Riyhad [Mahrez, £60m last summer] and he earns far away from what the top teams pay. Our wage bill for the players is eighth or ninth or 10th in Europe, so there are eight or nine clubs where the wages are higher than Manchester City pay".

“We try to be stable in everything. When we spent a lot [two summers ago] – it was because the team was old – it was an average 30-31 years old and that’s why we did it. But we cannot do it every season. We have a limit and cannot spend more so that’s why we need to be careful with the players and try next season to see what we can do to improve".

Source: https://www.adekkatv.com/2019/01/guardiola-says-city-will-not-pay-100m.html