SANE WILL STAY

Pep confident electric midfielder will join the Etihad big guns and pen new contract

PEP GUARDIOLA is confident Leroy Sane will become the latest star name to sign a new Manchester City deal.

And the manager revealed he wants him to extend his stay because of the huge improvement he has made amid fierce internal competition.

Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, Fernandinho and goalkeeper Ederson have all penned contract extensions with record-breaking City this year.

But Sane, who has re-captured his best form after a poor start to the season which saw him dropped from the squad, has yet to commit to a new deal.

“I don’t have any info about the club, about there being trouble with Leroy,” said Guardiola, ahead of tonight’s trip to Watford. “The last info I had was that it’s going well but the process is not one day. Raheem Sterling, it was not done in one day, except Kevin De Bruyne, it was done in one or two days. The other ones sometimes take longer but hopefully Leroy can stay here for many many years.”

Sane produced a breath-taking display in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, setting up two of the goals in the victory which consolidated City’s position at the top of the table.

And Guardiola is convinced the summer arrival of £60million winger Riyad Mahrez from Leicester has brought out the best in Sane, with the pair in direct competition for the slot on the left side of City’s attack. Asked how difficult it is picking between the pair for one spot, Guardiola (below) said: ”It’s not easy, many players don’t play. I said many times it’s the toughest period, the toughest situation I have to handle. When Leroy plays, he has to play good, Riyad the same, and it’s raised the level, I’m pretty sure of that, so they feel it, the players – they’re not stupid. They know they have to play good or the other one will play.” Guardiola has told Sterling he can reach another level.

Sterling has eight goals, including four in his last four Premier League games, and is joint top in terms of assists with six. But Guardiola said: “We are so delighted in what he has done in three years but he can do better – be more consistent, first controls, his receptions, many, many things.”