Pep not sure if Ster will sign a new deal at City
PEP Guardiola does not know whether Raheem Sterling will sign a contract extension – despite City’s desire to keep the forward.
The 23-year-old became British football’s most expensive player in 2015 when he swapped Liverpool for the Etihad Stadium in a deal rising to £49m.
He has come on leaps and bounds under Guardiola ‘s guidance, but the England forward has yet to agree a new contact with just two years left on his current deal.
“There’s no doubt we want him,” the City boss said.
“He knows, his agent knows. We want him. Txiki (Begiristain, City’s director of football) spoke with him.
“It’s clear since the first day I arrived we want him, but the deals are the deals, and the agents are the agents, and the players are the players.
“So, at the end I don’t know what is going to happen, but I assure you 100 per cent that the club, myself like a manager, sport director, even his teammates, we want him to stay longer here.”
Guardiola, meanwhile, is delighted Gabriel Jesus has extended his contract at City.
The 21-year-old has signed a new and improved deal until 2023 and his manager said: “Gabriel has improved a lot since he came.
“His courage, his fight to put every effort for the team, is incredible.
“I never met one striker who fights like he fights for the team and he’s able to improve, he always wants to know what he can do better and that is fantastic.”