After losing out on signing Frenkie de Jong, Pep Guardiola stated that Manchester City must adapt to the new rules of the transfer market.

“The transfer market, the salaries, increase a lot. After Neymar [moved to] PSG [for £200m], prices increased to incredible levels. We have to be quicker and smarter and try to buy the players. We have to adapt. It’s difficult to buy top, top players at a good price. It’s almost impossible. Maybe we have to trust in the young players [in the academy] and help them develop their own personality here," said Guardiola. 

Guardiola added that it's impossible to compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the transfer market.

“I said many times – Barcelona and [Real] Madrid: it’s impossible to fight against them, for the prestige, the incredible league, the incredible clubs they are".