Guardiola turns to youth for midfield gaps

(GSM) – Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola will turn to his youth players if Cesc Fabregas does not join the Catalonia side.

Barcelona have pursued their former youth product throughout the summer, but Arsenal’s refusal to negotiate has scuppered the chance of landing the playmaker.

But Guardiola has revealed that there are “real possibilities” of his reliance on the players who emerge from the youth system.

“The transfer window closes at the end of the month,” he told a press conference. “We’ll see what options there are to strengthen our midfield.

“I’m not ruling out that Cesc will, or will not, join us. The market has stalled. If there’s anything to be done, we’ll do it, but if not we’ll use the players from the lower squads because they give us sufficient guarantees.

“Some of them I already know well and I’ve got good references on the others. Whether or not they play doesn’t depend on me – it depends on them. I can give them a chance but if they don’t respond at the right level then they don’t continue. I’m very, very happy with the standard. I’ve got a very good feeling about them.”