By Daily Sports on January 29, 2017

Pep Guardiola insists that Kelechi Iheanacho won’t be going anywhere in the transfer window despite the arrival of new striker Gabriel Jesus.

The Nigeria forward was left out of the Manchester City squad for last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur with Gabriel taking his place in the bench.

But Guardiola insists that Iheanacho is an important part of his squad as he needs all his forwards with a busy fixture schedule of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup matches in the second half of the season.

“We have seven strikers, three in the middle, four or five wide — normally we play two or three,” Guardiola told a news conference ahead of City’s FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace.

“I don’t know how many others play. We play five or six offensive players and thanks to that we create a lot of chances.

“That is the case if you analyse the games against Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea and United at the beginning of the season, and especially in the first half of the season.

“In the second half we created much, much more than our opponents but we didn’t create the kind of chances for this kind of player. But of course Kelechi is part of the squad.”

Guardiola admits he faces a difficult balance keeping the players in his squad happy. Spain forward Nolito, who joined in a £13.8 million move from Celta Vigo in the summer, is another who has fallen down the pecking order — starting just one of City’s last seven games.

“Jesus and Nolito are not-so young strikers, Gabriel, Rash [Raheem Sterling] and Kelechi, they are so, so young strikers and they will be the future. They have to adapt,” Guardiola added.

“Rash is only playing in the Champions League for the second time in his life and fighting to win the title so of course we give them time.

“Of course we evaluate how they do in the games and the training sessions. At the end I try to be fair based on what I have seen in performances. Of course I have to evaluate it based on what I see on the grass.”

Guardiola said that there will be no new signings in the transfer window although he said a member of his squad could be on his way out.

He said he is happy with squad and didn’t feel the need to add any more players in the January transfer window.

“Disappointed? No, I am so happy with the squad,” he said.

“Maybe someone is leaving, I don’t know, you cannot be sure 100 percent but we haven’t had meetings about that.”

Young defender Tosin Adarabioyo, 19, is a reported target of Everton while midfielder Fabian Delph has been linked with moves to Leeds United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United. (NAN)

•Photo shows Kelechi Iheanacho

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 29, 2017

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