PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS ON BRINK OF FIRST SUMMER SIGNING
Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year extension as Manchester City manager and is closing in on his first summer signing as the Premier League champions attempt to build on their domestic dominance.
Guardiola was out of contract at the end of next season but the new deal will commit the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach to the Etihad Stadium until June 2021.
It comes as Jorginho’s agent revealed the Brazil-born Italy midfielder will join City this summer if the club can agree terms with Napoli for the £50 million-rated player. Joao Santos said City would have no trouble agreeing personal terms with Jorginho as they seek to bolster their midfield.
“At this moment, Jorginho is still under contract but if Napoli finds an agreement with City, the player will go to Manchester,” Santos said. “Finding an agreement with the English club will not be a problem, considering the importance of the team. But, I repeat, that will depend on the decisions of Napoli as the player is tied for another two years.”
Guardiola also wants a versatile forward, and is still interested ■ in Riyad Mahrez after failing to sign the Leicester City playmaker in January. Paris StGermain’s Kylian Mbappe and Belgium forward Eden Hazard, whom Chelsea are adamant will not be sold to City, are more ambitious targets. Thomas Lemar, of Monaco, and Leon Bailey at Bayer Leverkusen have also been monitored. Guardiola’s decision to commit to City for a further two years is a significant coup for the club and raises the prospect of the Catalan staying in Manchester for five years, longer than any of his previous clubs.
Guardiola spent four years at Barcelona before taking a sabbatical and just three years at Bayern. Guardiola’s original deal was worth about £15.2 million a year but it was unclear last night if he had secured an increase in salary and bonuses on the back of an extraordinary season in which City became the first topflight club in English history to amass 100 points.