Every word from Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland transfer and Man City team news vs Wolves |

Manchester City face Wolves at Molineux in a crucial Premier League game, but all attention is on Erling Haaland’s transfer status.

Pep Guardiola effectively confirmed Manchester City’s imminent signing of Erling Haaland this afternoon, with the Borussia Dortmund striker close to completing a transfer to the club.

Guardiola is speaking ahead of City’s crucial Premier League trip to Wolves in the Premier League tomorrow, where they will be looking to move to within two wins of the title — assuming Liverpool beat Aston Villa tonight (Tuesday). Guardiola confirmed at the weekend that Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker are all out for the final three games, while Nathan Ake is a major doubt to miss the Wolves game.

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The manager spoke about the latest injury condition of his squad, and when asked about Haaland, said he couldn’t discuss the transfer as City and Dortmund had told him not to.

Guardiola rarely comments on players of other clubs until they are confirmed as City players, so the fact that he did not deny the transfer, and promised to speak more after ‘legal issues’ were completed, will be a boost for supporters.

Guardiola meanwhile has relishes Liverpool title challenge.

Pep Guardiola claimed everyone in the country supports Liverpool in the Premier League title race, and has moved to clarify his position.

Pep Guardiola say Manchester City are happy to be battling with Liverpool for another title, as he looked to move on from his controversial comments about ‘everyone in the country’ supporting Jurgen Klopp’s men.

Guardiola raised eyebrows at the weekend when he claimed the country was backing Liverpool to win the title, with Klopp responding to say he didn’t see things that way, and suggesting his rival’s comments were made in the heat of the moment after an emotional week for City.

While news of Erling Haaland’s expected arrival at City dominated Guardiola’s press conference ahead of the trip to Wolves, the manager was asked about the neck-and-neck title race with Liverpool, offering him a chance to clarify his stance.

“It’s going to happen, hopefully we can push them too,” he said of the title race, adding that Liverpool’s clash with Aston Villa won’t influence their preparations against Wolves. Klopp’s men play tonight (Tuesday), 24 hours before City.

“It happens last four, five years. Both teams have done another impressive season. We know exactly what we have to do, nine points, we will try to be there. Tomorrow is a final for us, Wednesday gives us an opportunity to arrive in the last game here with the title in our hands. It’s massively important.”

Asked if outsiders underestimate the difficulty of winning the Premier League, Guardiola added that City are happy with their work on and off the field to be regular contenders for the title.

“We are new as a club this last decade, 12, 13 years to be there,” he explained, touching on the outside support he spoke about at the weekend.

“The mindset for everyone, not just ourselves. Only I can say inside, backroom staff, chairman, owner, CEO, sporting director, all the people working, we all know how difficult it is and how proud we are of what we have done and are doing. Hopefully we continue in the future.

“We know exactly how difficult, after that the opinions are absolutely acceptable. I know it’s impressive, so impressive what we have done, especially in the Premier League. Everyone knows how difficult it is.”