sport news Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will have to sign a top striker to replace ...

sport news Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will have to sign a top striker to replace ...
sport news Pep Guardiola admits Manchester City will have to sign a top striker to replace ...

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester do not possess a 'weapon' like Romelu Lukaku – and believes his bosses know they must sign a striker next summer.

City failed to replace Sergio Aguero ahead of this season as Tottenham stood firm in keeping hold of Harry Kane, and Guardiola is likely to continue deploying false nines.

On Saturday they face a Chelsea team boasting new £97.5million front man Lukaku, with the clubs' difference in goalscoring options potentially the ultimate difference in the title race.

Pep Guardiola (L) is preparing to face familiar counterpart Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge

Pep Guardiola (L) is preparing to face familiar counterpart Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge

The City boss has discussed the challenges of dealing without a striker like Romelu Lukaku (C)

The City boss has discussed the challenges of dealing without a striker like Romelu Lukaku (C)

'There are two options that we have right now: complaining or say we have exceptional players,' Guardiola said. 'These players have taken this club to another level and I'm still fascinated by the way they train, their commitment. That is enough for me.

'We don't have this weapon that others teams have like Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham or other teams. We don't have a player to score 25 league goals for himself, so we have to do it as a team. I cannot deny what a player Romelu Lukaku is.' 

City still lifted last season's Premier League without being able to call on Aguero for large spells but, despite realising the need to recruit his successor, went into this title defence without a recognised No 9 after Gabriel Jesus revealed a preference for operating wide. City are expected to be in the mix for Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland next summer.

'You will not hear me moaning for one single moment in this season that we don't have this player, because the players that have been given to me by the club –what things they have give to us in recent years,' Guardiola added.

'We survived without Sergio in a good way, in the way we played. I think the club knows – and not for me – that it needs a striker in the next years. Sometimes it is possible, sometimes not because they're the more expensive ones.'

City have a huge week to tackle, with trips to Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool following Saturday's clash at Stamford

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