City Plotting Deadline Dash for Strasbourg Striker to Take Heat off Haaland

Manchester City appear poised to make a surprise deadline day raid for Strasbourg's Joaquin Panichelli, looking to ease the burden on Erling Haaland in the closing stretch of the season.

The move would represent City's third major acquisition of the January window, following the arrivals of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace and Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth. Panichelli has been in prolific form in Ligue 1, netting 11 goals across 20 appearances this term.

The twist? Just hours earlier, Guardiola had suggested the club were perfectly content with their current squad. When quizzed before Sunday's 2-2 draw with Tottenham about potential deadline day business, the City boss was emphatic: "No. We have enough players. Good players. The window is important for the club, players. Every weekend I am so sad because I have to leave three players at home. While this happens why should we buy. If players leave, maybe. I'm happy."

Yet Football Transfers claim City are now actively exploring the possibility of bringing in the Strasbourg striker, with concerns mounting over both the intensity of City's attacking play and a recent dip in Haaland's output. Guardiola apparently believes introducing genuine competition for the number nine role is essential if his side are to challenge for silverware over the final three months.

The Tottenham stalemate has left City six points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal, prompting fresh questions about whether the title race remains realistic. Guardiola was having none of it, bristling at the suggestion he might deprioritise the league: "So you're saying to me [I should] get rid of the Premier League? With 14 games to play."

He acknowledged the club's injury troubles over the past month had disrupted momentum but insisted City remain in the hunt. "We are there, and continue," he said. "I know the calendar is what it is, and now we have a semi-final to reach the final [of the Carabao Cup] next Wednesday, and after Anfield, and continue. This is what we have to do."

On the title race more broadly, Guardiola struck a defiant note: "As much as the chance is there, the hopes will always be there. It happens. I know that these types of games always in the past you have to realise a way to win, right? And today it didn't happen."

He did offer encouragement regarding his squad's recent form, highlighting the contributions of several key players. "I saw an incredible good spirit in many things," he explained. "Erling is already with a good shape, I think Nico O'Reilly, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri in the middle gave us incredible presence and physicality we needed."

The manager acknowledged City's inconsistency when in possession, but praised their work rate and positioning. "In the last games we weren't consistent with the ball, especially without," he noted. "They were really good to make the process we needed, when we could run we ran, we arrived at the edge [of the penalty area], one-against-one many times, and we didn't shoot – that we have to improve."