By Gabriel Agbonlahor

8th Aug, 2023 | 2:56pm

Pep Guardiola has 'trick up his sleeve' as another big-name Man City sale expected - Agbonlahor

Gabby Agbonlahor has claimed Pep Guardiola has another “trick up his sleeve” and will reinvent his Man City side for the upcoming season.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Aston Villa striker claimed that the signing of Josko Gvardiol will likely mean Aymeric Laporte departs the club.

City announced on Saturday (5 August) that Red Bull Leipzig defender Gvardiol has joined the club in a deal worth a reported £77million.

The Croatian international signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium after becoming City’s most expensive defender in club history.

With Man City wrapping up a deal for Gvardiol, Agbonlahor believes that Guardiola has carefully planned his side for this campaign.

“Guardiola has a plan for this season,” he told Football Insider.

“But maybe they’ve done that to add more strength in depth. Maybe in their minds, they are thinking of letting Aymeric Laporte leave. I don’t think Guardiola is fancying him going into the season.

 “So it won’t surprise me if Laporte leaves.

“Kyle Walker still might leave, so you might have Manuel Akanji filling in a right back with Rico Lewis, then you’re down to maybe some games when Akanji is playing right back, you will have Diaz Stones and the new player.

“So maybe Pep’s got a plan, John Stones might even come into midfield permanently with Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne.

“You don’t know what he’s got planned, Pep might have a trick up his sleeve coming this season.”

In other news, Man City told to make ‘next level’ signing after £865,000-a-week deal agreed