Pep Guardiola says he will ‘do everything’ to keep two Man City stars amid transfer interest

Pep Guardiola has said he will ‘do everything’ to keep Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva at the club despite interest in the players from abroad.

Walker is wanted by Bayern Munich, and a deal could still happen for the full-back. As for Silva, there is strong interest from Barcelona, who are unlikely to be able to afford the Portugal international this summer, while Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on a transfer.

However, after losing Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez in the last few weeks, Guardiola has said he does not want to sell Walker and Silva as well, but added he would never stand in the way of anyone who wants to leave club.

“Regarding Kyle and Bernardo, what can I say? They are such important players for us, we are going to do everything. It’s not like Gundogan where he finished a contract. We want him to stay because he wants to stay because they want to stay,” the Catalan told reporters ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal.

“We will do everything because to replace these two players is so difficult. We lost two incredible players for us in Ilkay and Riyad for us who were massively important for us in big important games with goals and assists. To lose Kyle and Bernardo would be so difficult, that is why we are going to do everything to keep them.

“Players who are 32, 33 like Ilkay and Riyad say we arrived here to win the Premier Leagues and then people ask about the Champions League. Some players feel they want a new experience. I will not be the guy who says no – but they have to make an agreement with the important part of the club, the business. Make a deal and it happens.

“In the case of Bernardo and Kyle, we talk many times over the last months and even years how important they are, how we want them and we will continue to do so until the end.

“I don’t know what will happen but it won’t happen if the clubs don’t arrive because they are massively important players. When we lose those players we have to go to the market for the replacements and these players and they cost more than £50m. We need that money to reimburse on other players to make the team as strong as possible to defend the crowns that we won and win games for our people.

This is the third summer in a row Silva has been linked with a move to Barcelona, yet Guardiola claimed on Friday that City are yet to receive a ‘proper offer’ from his former club.

“I want to clarify that because I know Barcelona reports make up what I say. From day one I don’t want any players who don’t want to be here but I’m an employee. I want to work with guys who want to stay and work with staff and players, but after we have to get a proper offer. If we don’t get a proper offer, he’s our player and we want him.

“If they want him, they will take a plane and come here and talk to our sporting director and CEO to make an agreement because three parts have to be there. For us to buy a player, just because we are.”