Manchester: 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 St-Germain’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 top-flight club in English history to amass 100 points.
City, who also won the League Cup, scored the most goals in Premier League history (106) while their 19-point advantage over second-placed Manchester United was also the biggest winning margin in Premier League history.
But Guardiola insisted he would not be resting on his laurels and is determined to retain the Premier League crown, aware that the club’s last two title defences ended in disappointment.
“I am so excited, so happy,” Guardiola said. “It’s a pleasure to work in this family, in this position, this club. You have to be happy with the players, you have to be feel good and I feel good with the players and our staff. We are trying to be ready for the next years.
“There are important people working in other departments but on the pitch, it’s the desire to be getting better, to be a better and better team, that is what we are going to try every day on the pitch to improve our players.
“The contract of the manager always depends on the results. What we have done in one year changed absolutely everything.”
