Pep Guardiola confirms Oscar Bobb’s availability against Exeter City amid Borussia Dortmund links

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a verdict on Oscar Bobb’s availability to face Exeter City in the FA Cup this weekend.

Guardiola is yet to see his side taste victory in 2026 as doubts emerge over City’s title prospects against Arsenal – who themselves missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to eight points in midweek as they drew to Liverpool.

Manchester City announced the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth on Friday morning, with the 26-year-old Ghana international to be included in the matchday squad to face Exeter City in the FA Cup third-round on Saturday afternoon.

Semenyo’s addition to Manchester City’s frontline has stirred up competition in an Etihad Stadium frontline that has been called into question by Guardiola in recent weeks, having seen his side record three consecutive draws in the English top-flight.

While Guardiola has insisted that all three performances were more superior than the showing that led to victory away at Nottingham Forest at Christmas, the Catalan coach has called on his attacking talents to be more clinical in front of goal.

And that comes at a time when City remain limited, particularly in wide areas as they look to attack the coming weeks and months without Savinho, who is sidelined alongside Oscar Bobb.

The Norwegian international remains sidelined for Manchester City’s upcoming FA Cup third round tie at home to Exeter City too, with Guardiola issuing an update to reporters during his pre-match press conference.

“He’s not trained with us since the game against Brentford, [in] the Carabao [Cup],” Guardiola revealed when quizzed for an update on the versatile forward.

It still remains to be seen what the future holds for Oscar Bobb, with reports in the last few weeks suggesting that the Norway international could be the player to depart the club upon recruiting Antoine Semenyo.

Bobb has been linked to multiple clubs across Europe, and chief among those has been Borussia Dortmund, until national media claimed that the finances associated with a deal may be too much for the Bundesliga giants.

For now, Oscar Bobb will remain solely focussed on getting himself back to full fitness before weighing up options and looking at the attacking situation and competition that now faces him at Manchester City.