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Morgan Rogers' 'massive' Middlesbrough admission & Sunderland loan link baffles boss

On the subject of Manchester City, Guardiola makes a January transfer confession on the back of this week's links with Bruno Guimares.

And one Premier League manager was baffled by reports that his striker could be heading out on loan in January, with Sunderland one of the clubs linked.

MORGAN ROGERS ON 'MASSIVE' MIDDLESBROUGH LOAN

Cole Palmer isn't the only player who has done his best to make Pep Guardiola regret his transfer decisions over the course of the last year.

Morgan Rogers continues to go from strength to strength for Aston Villa and gave Guardiola a first hand reminder of his class with a starring show in yesterday's win over the struggling champions.

Rogers was nowhere near the first team picture at the Etihad when he left City for Middlesbrough in the summer of 2024.

He was only at the Riverside for half a season but Rogers says that spell was "massive" and he learnt an awful lot in a short space of time.

Since leaving Boro 12 months ago, Rogers has established himself as perhaps Villa's most important player and earned his first England call-up. And he was immense yesterday as City's misery deepened.

Looking back on his decision to leave City for Boro, he told TNT Sports this week: "I felt like it was time for me to go and play first-team football somewhere.

"To go and express myself, to go and challenge myself against grown men in a tough division, to compete for games every weekend.

"It was massive for me. It's not for everyone. Everyone's path is completely different, but for me, it was definitely what was needed. I felt like I needed that next step. I played a lot of my games there. Learned a lot about myself."

GUARDIOLA RESPONDS TO BRUNO LINKS

Staying with City, it's now nine defeats in 12 games for last season's title winners.

On the back of that form and with an injury crisis that is showing no sign of easing, City are expected to try to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.

Bruno Guimaraes has been freshly linked with the champions and while Guardiola is an admirer of the Brazilian, City know there's next to no chance of tempting Newcastle to cash in on their captain next month.

"It is not easy to do that," said Guardiola looking forward to the winter window in general.

"Teams don’t sell, maybe it has to be players who don’t play. They don’t want to sell and they are so expensive.

"We’ve spoken about doing something and if it’s in winter it’s if we can really we need it or if we can really find something. Not for just four or five months. In the winter it is more difficult to do. We’ll see."

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SUNDERLAND STRIKER LINKS BAFFLES BOSS

Brighton's boss Fabian Hurzeler was baffled by this week's speculation linking Evan Ferguson with a January loan move, with Sunderland one of the clubs linked.

Ferguson has made just two Premier League starts for Albion so far this season but that doesn't mean Hurzeler will be sanctioning a temporary switch for the 20-year-old.

"I don't know from where this information comes because I said to Evan that I am happy he is here with the team," he said this week.

"I am happy how he is training, what shape he is in physically, mentally. Of course, he is a young player and needs game time.

"Accept your role and make sure you bring yourself in the mood and the shape that, when you get the chance, you are ready. It is exactly that which I demand from Evan and also what I said to him. I never said anything to him about a loan or anything like this."

Even if Brighton were willing to allow Ferguson to leave on loan, Sunderland would appear to have their work cut out to tempt the Republic of Ireland international to drop to the Championship.

Fulham are reportedly monitoring the striker's situation.

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