Manchester City fans will be delighted with the news – well flagged up here – that Bernardo Silva will be sticking around for the club’s title defence.
Despite interest from the player and potential suitors Barcelona in making something happen, City’s £85million price tag has killed talk stone dead. Silva will slot back into the mix as a powerful midfield addition with nobody at City doubting his commitment.
Elsewhere Liam Delap is on his way to Stoke for a senior football education in the Championship with City hopeful it will be the making of him. Here Mirror Sport brings you the best of the City stuff out there…
DELAP FOLLOWS IN FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS
Stoke City have reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign 19-year-old striker Liam Delap on loan for the season according to The Athletic.
The Championship club will sign the attacker on loan for the season with City keen to keep close tabs on his progress. Several clubs were interested in him with Southampton reportedly having a £16m bid turned down by the Premier League champions and Birmingham also throwing their hat in the ring.
Pep Guardiola retains faith that Delap can become of City’s most exciting academy graduates but feels he needs minutes in men’s football.
SILVA STAYING PUT
Bernardo Silva is staying at City this season according to another report in various outlets including The Athletic.
Pep Guardiola and City’s senior players including Kevin De Bruyne have been vocal in their efforts to persuade the Portgual international not to have his head turned by interest from Barcelona. And it seems their efforts have convinced the playmaker his immediate future is at the Etihad. City are said to be delighted with the outcome.
GUERREIRO RUMOUR REFUSES TO GO AWAY
Despite Guardiola insisting there will be no more ins or outs European outlets are still linking City with Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro.
According to Sky Sports, Guardiola remains keen on signing the 28-year-old this summer as he looks to bolster his options at left-back, despite the recent addition of Sergio Gomez from Anderlecht.
Gomez and Josh Wilson-Esbrand are two excellent young backup options to Cancelo, but the broadcaster says Guardiola would prefer a more experienced competitor in that position.