Thursday, 2 June 2016

Guardiola steps up Man City plans, with Navas & Sagna set to stay

Guardiola steps up Man City plans, with Navas & Sagna set to stay
Contrary to some reports, the Catalan is not expected in Manchester for another month, but will be in close contact with Txiki Begiristain regarding summer transfer plans
Pep Guardiola does not officially take up office at Manchester City for another month, but has stepped up his preparations for life in the Premier League already.
Guardiola admitted in February, shortly after it was confirmed that he would replace Manuel Pellegrini, that he had begun to plan for his first season in England, despite his ongoing commitment to Bayern Munich.
It had even been reported recently that the Catalan would formally take the reins from Pellegrini on Wednesday, just 11 days after lifting the DFB-Pokal with the Bavarian side.
He is not expected to arrive in Manchester until around July 1 - the original start date on his three-year contract - but as of Wednesday he will be in close contact with sporting director Txiki Begiristain in a bid to smoothen his transition.




The progress of ongoing transfer negotiations, changes to the club's training ground - reportedly including the re-cutting of pitches to aid his specific coaching methods - and the management of the current squad will all be monitored.

The capture of Ilkay Gundogan will be made official shortly. Goal revealed at the end of May that an agreement over a deal - worth roughly €25m - had been put in place between City and Borussia Dortmund.

Personal terms were a formality given lengthy talks between City and Gundogan's representatives and both clubs are now at a stage where an official announcement is imminent.

Elsewhere, moves for Athletic centre-back Aymeric Laporte and Everton's John Stones are still in the works.
It can also be revealed that Guardiola will retain the services of Jesus Navas and Bacary Sagna for next season.
Both men had been among several members of the playing staff to be considered candidates for a summer departure.
But sources have told Sportmasta that Guardiola sees Navas and Sagna as useful options for his first season in England.
Guardiola will oversee a significant overhaul of the playing staff, with as many as eight players likely to be shown the exit door.
And with the centre of defence and the centre of midfield pinpointed as specifically in need of a facelift, Navas is seen as a handy option on the right or from the bench, especially if City can clinch the signing of right-sided Schalke and Germany forward Leroy Sane.

Sagna, meanwhile, was one of City's most consistent performers last season and, with Pablo Zabaleta still expected to depart this summer despite an ankle injury, the Frenchman will battle it out with Jason Denayer, who will return from loan at Galatasaray, for the right-back spot.
It is also a sign of the transitional nature of the next 18 months for City that Navas could be allowed to leave on a free transfer next summer and re-join boyhood club Sevilla.
The winger has already rejected an approach from a Serie A club, informing them that he would only leave City for a return to Andalusia.

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