Guardiola refutes talk of City swoop for Mbappe: ‘That is not going to happen’

4:32 am | October 2, 2018 | Go to Source | Author: Jonathan Soveta

Manchester City aren’t plotting a sensational move for Kylian Mbappe this winter, according to boss Pep Guardiola.

The Sun’s Alan Nixon reported Sunday that City are considering a record-shattering £200-million bid for the 19-year-old World Cup winner in January, but Guardiola adamantly shot down those claims at a press conference Monday ahead of his side’s Champions League match against Hoffenheim.

“That is not going to happen,” Guardiola said, courtesy of The Independent’s Andy Hampson. “Sometimes I don’t understand where that news comes from. Manchester City aren’t going to spend the money that Mbappe deserves, or that PSG deserves.

“PSG are not going to sell this kind of player to any other club in the world in the next years, I guess.”

Nixon’s report suggested Mbappe would serve as a long-term replacement for England forward Raheem Sterling, who has yet to sign a new deal with City despite his current contract reportedly set to expire in 2020. A report in September suggested Sterling was seeking a wage increase to £220,000 per week, though he and the club had reached an impasse in negotiations.

Guardiola, however, rejected speculation that the club would part with any of its biggest stars in order to facilitate a deal for the former Monaco forward.

“Mbappe is not going to come here, we are not going to swap Raheem or another top player that we have. People should be more respectful of PSG and respectful of Manchester City.”