Man City make Rico Lewis transfer decision after fresh Pep Guardiola talks

Rico Lewis had been offered a transfer to Nottingham Forest in the summer window and has now made up his mind after speaking to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola

Rico Lewis is set to snub Nottingham Forest and sign a new contract with Manchester City. Forest had made an official approach to City for the versatile defender last week, but he has now decided to stay put.

The 20-year-old defender came through the City academy and has made 95 appearances for the club. He has been nurtured by Pep Guardiola, who has fielded him in a variety of positions, and played 44 times last season.

Forest tried to tempt the full-back by offering to double his wages at the City Ground after signing his team-mate James McAtee for £25million. But Lewis said he was happy at City after playing in the 4-0 win over Wolves on the weekend and The Daily Mail reports that he will pen fresh terms with the club.

Lewis will sign a new five-year deal to increase his wages and commit to a further two years. His decision was foreshadowed by Guardiola, who spoke to his defender after Forest’s approach and said he was confident of keeping him after opening the campaign with a thumping win at Molineux.

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“I think he is going to stay. I think,” he said. “He told me that. But maybe tomorrow it changes.

“For example, for the case with Phil [Foden], for Rico, for Nico O’Reilly, I have special sympathy because they were 16 or 17 years old when they arrived here and we were winning Premier Leagues. In his role he is an extraordinary player.

“But he is so small. If he was taller we’d say, ‘oh what a player’. Today, I think he is going to stay but I don’t know what is going to happen.”

Forest’s interest came after talks with City over a new deal stalled and he was left out of the squad for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace at the end of last season, but he made it clear after the Wolves game that he never really considered leaving. “For me, I’ve never, ever seen myself at a different club,” Lewis said.

“I’ve always wanted to play for City. It’s my dream club, and like you see today, when I’m playing with the kind of players that I’m playing with, it brings out the best in me, so I’m so happy.

“Everyone wants assurance and security, but at the end of the day, it’s on me. It’s on me to perform. It’s on me to take the chances. If I take my own chances, I do it. If I don’t, then I have to work and get better.

“Last season I played more than the season before, this season I want to play more than last season, so it’s always the same goal, becoming an established player.”

City have not signed a right-back in the summer transfer window and Lewis started there against Wolves before being replaced by Matheus Nunes.

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