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Pep Guardiola launches new Man City defence as clubs ‘circle’ amid 115 charges hearing

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
-Credit: (Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)


Manchester City reportedly know their rivals are preparing to sign several of their players should they receive significant sanctions from the Premier League if their charges are upheld.

Expulsion from the top-flight and not being in the Champions League would assumedly see the squad decimated as individuals depart to continue their careers at the highest level. Real Madrid are already reputedly interested in Rodri, while Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan are out of contract next summer.

Erling Haaland would also assumedly receive significant interest from in England and across Europe. So much so that teams are purportedly already preparing plans to raid City should such a scenario materialise.

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Sunday has seen reports about the club being aware of others readying themselves for a run at their prized assets. De Bruyne, Foden, Haaland and Rodri are four named in the Mirror.

However, it is acknowledged that City are readying a contract offer to make the latter one of their highest-paid players, on par with De Bruyne and Haaland. Those two make around £375,000 per week in wages, but both are also in line for new deals.

City reputedly want to reward Haaland for his goalscoring form with fresh terms. De Bruyne is out of contract next summer, but will reportedly receive an extension should he stay fit.

Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, believes everyone expects City to not only suffer relegation but "disappear off the face of the earth". "I'm sorry, I want to defend my club, especially in these modern days when everyone is expecting us not [only] to be relegated, to be disappeared off the face of the Earth, the world," Guardiola said.

He alluded to the hearing unprompted at a press conference previewing the Arsenal match. The City boss spoke on the eve of the hearing about knowing "what people are looking forward to, what they expect".