Pep Guardiola has ‘no idea’ how his Treble-winning squad will look come the start of the season – with Kyle Walker, Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte all facing uncertain futures
- Pep Guardiola has no idea what his Man City squad will look like next season
- Man City have only added Mateo Kovacic to their squad so far this summer
- The futures of Bernardo Siva, Kyle Walker and Aymeric Laporte remain unclear
Pep Guardiola admitted that he has no idea what Manchester City’s squad will look like at the start of their Treble defence.
The Premier League champions start their pre-season preparations in Japan on Sunday with question marks over a number of first-team stars.
Guardiola has spoken to Kyle Walker about his future amid interest from Bayern Munich but the defender has still not decided upon his future, while Bernardo Silva and Aymeric Laporte could both leave.
The unsettled nature of City’s start will act as a concern for Guardiola, tasked with re-energising a team that created history just six weeks ago.
‘We will see what we have at the end of the transfer window, which team we will have,’ Guardiola said.
Pep Guardiola isn’t clear on what his Manchester City squad will look like next season
The futures of Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker remains unclear and could exit the club
‘Honestly I didn’t think there [would be] this movement. I think many things are going to happen. That’s why I cannot answer because I don’t know.
‘I want the best for my players and of course the club is involved with that as well. I spoke with Kyle and everything is right – we will see what happens. I cannot tell you anything because he is still thinking about that.’
City have targeted Croatian central defender Josko Gvardiol but have not matched RB Leipzig’s valuation, thought to be above £80million, and have only so far brought in Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea.
Riyad Mahrez is following Ilkay Gundogan out of the exit door, with the winger securing a £30m switch to Al-Ahli, while Cancelo is back after a row with Guardiola saw him loaned out to Bayern in January.
‘He is here. Joao has been so important for us in the past,’ Guardiola added. ‘He is back here and is part of the group. We will see what happens.’
Youngsters James McAtee and Oscar Bobb have been added to the squad, although Cole Palmer is wanted by Brighton.
City face sister club Yokohama F. Marinos in Tokyo on Sunday after only three days of training, with the Community Shield against Arsenal on the horizon in a fortnight.
So far City have only added Mateo Kovacic to their squad after he arrived in a £25m deal
Captain Ilkay Gundogan has moved to Barcelona and won’t be the last out of the exit door
RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol remains one of Pep Guardiola’s top summer targets
Guardiola, who has been on the lookout for wingers this summer, was labelled the ‘Greatest of All Time’ by local media but misheard the question.
‘I am not a God and I don’t have any intention of being,’ he said before realising his mistake. ‘It’s the truth. I know myself perfectly.
‘I live with incredible doubts in my head. Not about this season, just in general. In football you cannot be sure of anything. Football itself surprises you every day, many times. I always have the warnings ready.
‘Now I am not thinking about titles or these kind of things. It’s step by step. We arrive in Community Shield and the second final [Super Cup] as well, and the first game at Burnley and try not to drop points at the beginning, which has always happened. And we will see what happens at the end.’