Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola admits they couldn't afford to buy a striker over the summer.
City believed they were in pole position to land Lionel Messi after the Barcelona legend declared his intention to quit Camp Nou.
But the Argentine was ultimately forced to stay with the Catalan giants – leaving Guardiola with no other options.
“We thought about it, another type of striker, but we couldn't do it," he said. “The club did what it could. They want to reinvest in the team. Our team is so young.
“When you decide to buy a striker, they need to be on Gabriel and Sergio's level and you cannot afford it. That's the reality.
“I'm not saying the club didn't want to do it, they wanted to make as strong a team as possible, but we thought Sergio is coming back and we didn't expect Gabriel's injury."
