Manchester City

Manchester City

Premier League • England

Pep Guardiola contract latest: Worrying admission leaves Man City hanging over extension

Man City manager Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has revealed that he will not renew his Manchester City contract until his current deal has come to an end.

The City boss has already dropped hints that he will follow the lead of Liverpool rival Jurgen Klopp in committing himself to the club, having already spent six years at The Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola was one of the main reasons why City were able to seal the transfer of Erling Haaland. However, there have been rumblings that he could leave when his current deal runs out.

The Spaniard has already seen title rival extend his stay at Anfield, while his former assistant Mikel Arteta has done likewise at Arsenal.

City are currently closing in on a fourth Premier League title in five years. However, the Champions League still eludes them after their devastating semi-final exit against Real Madrid.

Guardiola joined the club in 2016 and penned his first extension in 2018. As reported in the MEN, the last time his contract was up he renewed in the November international break of his final season, just over six months before his existing deal ran out.

However, City’s patience could be tested sorely this time around. Indeed, Guardiola told Sky Sports that he will not renew until the end of his final contracted season.

The City chief said: “If I extend the contract, it will be at the end of the next season. Before that is not going to happen.

“It is many years and I have to see how the team and ourselves are together. Knowing and saying I would stay for 10 more years but we have to take time for that.

“It is not the time for that in this season or during the next season.”

City are back in action on Sunday when they head to West Ham in the Premier League.

Pep’s men can effectively wrap up the title with a victory, given their goal difference is far superior to Liverpool’s.

Guardiola still searching for City’s Holy Grail

Despite the talk of him moving on when his contract comes to an end, the fact that City are still to win the Champions League during his tenure clearly rankles with Guardiola.

And City believe that adding Erling Haaland to the mix will be the thing that gets them over that hump.

Guardiola’s men would have cruised past Real if they had taken all their chances on offer. And that is where the prolific Norwegian comes in.

Adding an out-and-out clinical No.9 to add to a team that already scores plenty of goals should make all the difference in the biggest games.

And the feeling is that Guardiola will not go anywhere else until he breaks that Champions League hoodoo.

READ MORE: Report reveals Man City agreed telling £128m Erling Haaland clause as part of new signing