PEP GUARDIOLA will be handed the keys to a £100million war chest if he feels Manchester City need to strengthen in January.
Guardiola largely kept his powder dry in the summer, despite Julian Alvarez’ joining Atletico Madrid in an £81.5m deal.
Spaniard Pep ran the rule over a handful of options but ultimately was happy to stick with what he had.
Yet the Etihad boss has been told a hefty transfer kitty will be available again in the new year, if he wants to bring in new faces.
For all the champions’ riches, Guardiola has always stuck to his guns in the market — refusing to go beyond his own valuation even if it means missing out on a player.
City finished the summer massively in profit, after other departures — notably Joao Cancelo and Taylor Harwood-Bellis — brought in £160m in total.
In contrast, the only fee they paid was the £21m to sign Brazilian winger Savinho, already a huge favourite with fans, from sister club Troyes.
Yet they pulled a rabbit out of the hat by bringing midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, 33, back to the Etihad on a free from Barcelona.
City are keen on Florian Wirtz, 21, the Bundesliga Player of the Season as Bayer Leverkusen won the double last season.
Gifted Bayern Munich’ rookie Jamal Musiala, also 21, is another dream target but neither is likely to be gettable before next summer at the earliest.
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City are keen to advance contract extension talks with Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne before Christmas.
