Manchester City ‘not expecting’ to sign two Arsenal transfer targets in January

Manchester City are not expecting to sign Bruno Guimaraes or Martin Zubimendi in the January transfer window.

Last weekend’s spectacular Manchester derby capitulation represented another chapter in an extraordinary demise which has seen the champions win just one of their last 11 games in all competitions.

A season ending injury sustained by Ballon d’Or winner Rodri sparked City’sdiabolical run of form which had triggered an expectation that Pep Guardiola would dip into the January market.

Ilkay Gundogan return to the Etihad in the summer after a difficult year at Barcelona but he appears to be a pale imitation of the player who powered City to the treble.

Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva have also struggled while Oscar Bobb has been out of action with a season ending injury he sustained in the summer.

City have held long-term interest in both Bruno and Zubimendi, but a move for either player is not on the cards next month according to multiple sources.

Zubimenid appeared close to a switch to Liverpool in the close season before a late change of heart saw the Spain international opt to remain at Real Sociedad for another 12 months.

The 25-year-old now appears ready for a new challenge but Arsenal have emerged as the frontrunners.

Sociedad’s outgoing sporting director Roberto Olabe is Mikel Arteta’s preferred candidate to succeed Edu at Arsenal and were he to join the Gunners it could prove a factor that turns out to be decisive in Zubimendi’s next destination.

Guardiola, meanwhile, has backed Erling Haaland to deliver as he seeks to turn around City’s poor form.

Amid the downturn the usually prolific Haaland has dried up in front of goal, with the Norway striker – isolated and starved of chances – scoring just once in his last five appearances.

Yet although the supply lines are clearly faltering, Guardiola has no interest in changing approach and reverting to the false nine system that has served him well in the past.

‘I prefer to play with Erling,’ said Guardiola ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa. ‘I don’t think in the situation that I have that I don’t let Erling play – absolutely not. No, no, I didn’t think about that.

‘Always I play false nines for the quality specifically of the players I have in that moment. In some games playing man to man, I love to play against false nines but I have an Erling, I have to adapt.

‘I see him well, I see him fine. The reason why maybe he’s not so productive in this situation is for the way we are playing, that we don’t produce the amount of chances that we were able to do in the past.

‘When he’s surrounded by two or three or four central defenders it’s not easy for him. We have to play better, to create the spaces for him.’