Pep Guardiola is not sure if Raheem Sterling will sign a new contract at Manchester City despite the Premier League champions being desperate for him to extend his stay.
The 23-year-old became British football's most expensive player in 2015 when swapping Liverpool for the Etihad Stadium in a deal rising to £49million.
Sterling has come on leaps and bounds under Guardiola's guidance, but the England forward has yet to agree a new contact with just two years left on his current deal.
"There's no doubt we want him," the City boss said.
"He knows, his agent knows. We want him. Txiki (Begiristain, City's director of football) spoke with him so.
"It's clear since the first day I arrived we want him, but the deals are the deals, and the agents are the agents, and the players are the players.
"So, at the end I don't know what is going to happen, but I assure you 100 per cent that the club, myself like a manager, sport director, even his team-mates, we want him to stay longer here."
Pep still hungry
Guardiola comprehensively silenced any doubters that reared their head during his first campaign at the Etihad Stadium as he led the side to a record-breaking season.
Fresh from lifting the Carabao Cup, City became the first Premier League side to rack up 100 points as they stormed to the title with a record tally of goals and wins.
"From my point of view, the players don't have to be worried - I am ready to try it again," Guardiola said ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.
"The fear to lose the games make me starving and hungry again.
"I don't like the feeling to lose games, it's not good for any manager around the world.
"All the managers try to avoid that feeling where you lose a game. You feel guilty, you feel bad, your private life is not good and your relationship with the players is not good.
"So that's why to avoid that, just with that simple fear to lose a game make you hungry."
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