Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola is hopeful last campaign’s treble winners can add another central defender before the new campaign starts while also conceding that he hopes to see Leroy Sane remain with the club.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager addressed speculation surrounding the future of the winger, who has been linked with Bayern for a majority of the summer window.
Former Germany star Lothar Matthaus says that he believes Sane can be the new star of Bayern Munich, while Guardiola has already said that he thinks Leroy Sane’s career would best be served by staying at City.
“We want him to stay. Hopefully he can stay this season and another one and another one, that’s why we offered him a new contract,” Guardiola said.
“I want him. He has special qualities, we play wingers and we need specific wingers. But it is his decision, it’s the same as what happened with [Jadon] Sancho. We want him, we are giving everything, but in the end, if he doesn’t want, what can you do? Nothing.”
City have already made two signings this summer with Spanish midfielder Rodri joining for a fee of £63 million and full-back Angelino returning to the club from PSV.
Last campaign’s Premier League champions are set to play Wolves on Saturday for the Premier League Asia Trophy.
Manchester City had a 4-1 win over West Ham United to book their place in the finale of the pre-season tournament while Wolves cruised past Newcastle in their semi-final.
City are in the market for a new defender after club captain Vincent Kompany left the Etihad after 11 seasons at the club.
Kompany, who had been with City since 2008, has returned to Anderlecht as the Belgian team’s new player-manager.
City has been linked with Harry Maguire, as has Manchester United, and while Guardiola refused to discuss the English man specifically, he confirmed that they are looking at transfer targets.
“We will see,” Guardiola said when asked if City needed to replace Kompany. “But yeah, we are looking for some names.
“At the same time, we have three centre-backs who can play there and we have two young players in the second team who can help us.
“We shall see if the market is possible and if the club believes we can spend that money. But if they don’t, we shan’t spend it.”
