Guardiola sure Sane will sign long-term contract

Pep Guardiola is confident Leroy Sane will become the latest of his players to commit his long-term future to Manchester City and believes becoming a father has benefited the Germany winger.

Sane has overcome a difficult start to the season to return to the form that won him the Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year award last term.

City are in talks with Sane over a lucrative new contract and Guardiola is confident he will follow in the footsteps of Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Sergio Aguero by staying on.

“I don’t have any info about there being trouble with Leroy, the last I heard was that it [contract talks] is going well, but the process is not one day – Raheem Sterling [and his new deal], it was not one day,” the City manager said ahead of tonight’s visit to Watford. “Except Kevin De Bruyne, it was in one or two days, the other ones sometimes take longer but hopefully he can stay here for many, many years.”

Sane’s attitude has been questioned this season, with Guardiola dropping the winger from his squad against Newcastle United in September and Germany team-mate Toni Kroos suggesting his body language sometimes made it look like he did not care if he won or lost.

But Sane has scored six goals in his past nine games for club and country and banished any talk about his workrate. Sane’s partner, Candice Brook, gave birth to their daughter, Rio Stella, in September and Guardiola believes it has been a factor behind the player’s upturn.

“I’m pretty sure becoming a father helps,” Guardiola said. “I think he played incredible last season. But I don’t like to say too many times to the players how good they are because the season is too long.

“It’s the same as Raheem, I have a feeling he can do better. But with the age he has and the potential he has, we are delighted to have him here and the way he is playing lately.”