MANCHESTER -- Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's new signings could already be worth more than they paid as transfer prices continue to increase.
Barcelona's £97 million move for Borussia Dortmund winger Ousmane Dembele is the latest big money deal in a summer that also saw Neymar leave the Camp Nou for a world record £200m fee.
City moved quickly to close their first deal in May -- the £43m move for Monaco playmaker Bernardo Silva -- and that is already looking like it could prove to be a bargain.
"Everyone who makes a deal would like to do it in two minutes. But sometimes the clubs take their time, they make their strategy to earn more money and it's normal," Guardiola told a news conference ahead of City's Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Saturday.
"In that moment we decided to do that, so I think so [he would be more expensive now]. Maybe not just Bernardo, maybe Kyle [Walker], maybe [Benjamin] Mendy or maybe others would be more expensive now."
Silva could make his first start for the club at Bournemouth after he missed part of preseason because of his late return from the Confederations Cup in Portugal.
Guardiola has been impressed by the 23-year-old and believes he can be a big player for City with his ability to produce in pressure situations.
"He's a player that has this quality and especially his personality, how he played in the last 10-15 minutes against Everton, his first game in the Premier League, in the the Etihad Stadium, and he tried to do things," the City boss added.
"He tried to fight, with personality, that's why we decide to pick him up. Not just for the quality but for his personality."
Guardiola is certain to make at least one change for the game at the Vitality Stadium with Kyle Walker suspended after his controversial red card against Everton.
He hinted at making other changes with Raheem Sterling set to come in for his first start of the season after his goal rescued a point against the Toffees on Monday. The England international has scored seven goals in five appearances against Bournemouth and Guardiola said he could play centrally as a goal threat rather than as a winger.
"Since the preseason game against Real Madrid, in the second half, he has played more as a No. 10, behind the striker. He is so dangerous in that position," the Catalan coach said.
"I like him to sit there closer to the middle, because he commits the central defenders, he is so aggressive in the small spaces. That is good.
"He scored a goal. In the last four or five games, he scored a goal per game. Hopefully the goal he scored in the last game can help his confidence. Because with a goal, he is confident."