Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed reports suggesting Kevin De Bruyne could leave the club, amidst rumors that the Belgian midfielder might join a team in Saudi Arabia. De Bruyne, whose contract runs until 2025, recently stated that he is open to a transfer, but Guardiola is confident that the squad will remain largely unchanged before the transfer window closes on August 30.
"Kevin is staying," Guardiola declared during a press conference at North Carolina State University on Monday, prior to their first match in the US tour against Celtic. "I am very pleased with our squad, which has been strong for several years. I am uncertain about what might occur in the transfer market, but if anyone departs, we will address it then. However, I estimate that 85-95% of our squad will remain the same. We have made significant moves in the market previously, and each situation is unique. I am at ease because the quality within our squad is hard to match."
City recently acquired 20-year-old Brazilian winger Savinho, and Guardiola also confirmed that Kalvin Phillips, who was loaned to West Ham United, has been training with the first team. "Savinho is capable of playing on the wing and excels in one-on-one situations," Guardiola added. "He is young, and it is important to introduce one or two new players to keep the team dynamic, but altering six or seven players is impractical and unsustainable."
Many players are keen to join City, but the club has not reached agreements with other clubs due to high asking prices. City will kick off their Premier League title defense against Chelsea on August 18.
