Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has played down recent speculation linking the club with a move for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk in January.

The Netherlands international has seen his reputation grow massively since arriving at St Mary’s from Celtic in the summer of 2015.

The 25-year-old signed for £13million and after impressing with a string of consistent match-winning performances he was rewarded with a six-year contract extension in May.

However, despite being tied down to a long-term deal the defender has still been linked with a big-money move away.

Reports claim that City, who are priced at 4.50 to win the Premier League, are lining up a £50million bid for the centre-back they look to try and solve their defensive woes.

City have conceded the joint highest goals of any side in the top seven in the Premier League despite bringing in John Stones from Everton over the summer for a fee in the region of £47million.

The Citizens have been without skipper Vincent Kompany for most of the term through injury leading to speculation that Guardiola will go out to spend again.

The Spaniard insists that is not going to be the case and feels it would be too difficult to bring in such a talented player from a Premier League rival in the winter window.

Guardiola said: “Next month, Van Dijk here? “We’re going to Southampton to play against them (in April).

He’s not going to come here next month. Impossible. “Because he’s a Southampton player and we don’t want him now.”