Valencia extends stay at United
PEP Guardiola has begun his City overhaul with the £43m signing of Bernardo Silva.
And he is ready to splash out another £250m this summer as he looks to build a side capable of winning silverware next season.
As exclusively revealed by M.E.N. Sport, Portuguese international Silva flew into Manchester on Thursday night to complete the formalities of his move from Monaco.
He has agreed a five-year deal and becomes Guardiola’s first signing in what is set to be a busy summer at the Etihad.
The City manager has already released five out-of-contract players – Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Willy Caballero.
More departures are expected in the coming weeks, with Guardiola still planning to sign two full-backs, at least one central defender, a holding midfielder and a striker.
Tottenham’s Kyle Walker is a £40m target at right-back, with Guardiola also interested in Silva’s Monaco team-mate, left-back Benjamin Mendy.
Alexis Sanchez is Guardiola’s firstchoice target in attack - but City face major competition from Bayern Munich for the Arsenal contract rebel.
City also need a goalkeeper to provide competition for Claudio Bravo.
Guardiola is determined to complete the overhaul of his squad that he started in his first transfer window at the club.
He spent around £170m on Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito and Bravo, but ended the season empty-handed for the first time in his managerial career.
He has been given the backing by City’s Anu Dhabi owners to spend heavily again this summer in a bid to mount a genuine challenge to Premier League champions Chelsea next season. ANTONIO Valencia has signed an improved United contract which will keep him at the club until 2019.
The Reds triggered the option to extend his deal by an additional year in January, which initially kept him at the club until 2018.
However, the 31-year-old’s impressively consistent campaign has seen him earn a new contract which could take his years of service at Old Trafford up to a decade.
Valencia said: “Manchester United has been my life since 2009 and I am absolutely delighted to have signed a new contract.
“Wednesday evening provided the one trophy this club had never won and it was a true honour for me to captain the team for the final.
“I would like to thank the manager for the confidence he has given me this season and I am sure that we will be challenging on all fronts next season.”
United manager Jose Mourinho added: “It is no secret that I had been an admirer of Antonio’s long before I joined the club. I knew what a fantastic player he was and he has not disappointed me on that front.
“However, what I could never have imagined was what a great person he is. I truly believe it is a real privilege for us to have such a good player.”