Manchester City still searching for midfield cover, reveals Pep Guardiola

Another player for that position was one of Guardiola’s two main targets for the summer, and he has already been frustrated once, as Chelsea beat them to the signing of Jorginho

Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City still want an alternative defensive midfield option to Fernandinho before the transfer window closes on Wednesday, but that they will not do any other business, and that using John Stones in midfield could be an option if they can’t complete such a purchase.

Another player for that position was one of Guardiola’s two main targets for the summer, and he has already been frustrated once, as Chelsea beat them to the signing of Jorginho.

“I would like to sign maybe one more,” the City manager said after the Community Shield. “I would like to sign maybe one more, because we don’t have specific players to substitute Fernandinho. If no other player arrives, I have to find a solution. Maybe [Stones] can play there. But if [that buy] does not come, we won’t sign anyone.”

Guardiola meanwhile praised the performance of Phil Foden, who set up the opening goal for Sergio Aguero in City’s 2-0 win over Chelsea, and intimated he is set to feature a lot this season.

“Phil is part of the team. When you speak about him it's like speaking about [Ilkay] Gundogan, Kevin [De Bruyne] or David [Silva]. He trained with us all last season and how he's more mature and he's part of the first team. When he deserves to play he is going to play. He is a man city fan and people love him and he's a guy who plays with a lot of courage. He did really well. He's a guy who will be a football player for a long long time.”