Spaniard urged to sort out his future quickly
Ljungberg will meet with the club tomorrow to discuss his own future, although there is an expectation that he will stay on as an assistant. Part of Arteta’s negotiations are the staff he will bring in, as well as the potential players.
City boss Pep Guardiola expects Arteta to make a decision on his future quickly to avoid any further distractions.
Guardiola has confirmed that Arteta is in talks with the north London club but the Spaniard is still due to travel with City for tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final away at Oxford United.
City will not stand in Arteta’s way if he ultimately decides to succeed sacked Unai Emery and return to the club where he spent the final seven years of his playing career, but Guardiola is keen for the matter to be resolved over the next few days.
When asked whether he wanted Arteta’s future to be settled soon, Guardiola said: “Yes, I think so. It’s going to happen quickly.
“Arteta knows the desire and what we would like but after that, if finally he decides to leave for another club, we will make a decision in that moment of what we have to do.
“In this moment we prepare for the game and the team that is going to play at Oxford, the starting 11, and he prepares his part of the training, as we have always done in the last three and a half years.
“You know my opinion about Mikel. He’s a professional human being and a person, I don’t have doubts about that. If he stays I’d be happy, incredible, because we all work together really well — hopefully he can feel the same as me or with us.
“If he decides to move I’ll wish him all the best, for him, his family and for his professional future.
“I will beat him — that’s a joke! The best of luck.”