Man City will only sign a new midfielder if first team stars are sold after ending Rice pursuit

Manchester City  are focused on finalising the situations of several first-team stars after pulling out of the race to land Declan Rice.

City refused to match Arsenal’s £105million bid for the England international, a fee that went further than their valuation of the West Ham United captain.

The Treble winners are working on a deal for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol but are more concerned with the futures of some of Pep Guardiola’s biggest names.

Bernardo Silva has interest from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, and has been keen for a new challenge in previous summers.

No club has matched City’s valuation of Silva previously and they would expect to recoup a hefty fee for someone so crucial in recent successes and who has two years left on his deal. Rice’s cost, with the same length of contract, could act as a barometer.

Manchester City will only buy a new midfielder if they sell first team stars – with Bernardo Silva (L) and Riyad Mahrez (R) among the players 

City have yet to have been approached by clubs for Aymeric Laporte, who saw his game time dramatically decrease during the intense run-in. 

Riyad Mahrez is also being watched by Al-Hilal, with extortionate wages on offer to British-based players from the Saudi Pro League.

The pursuit of Gvardiol is not thought to be contingent on outgoings, but Leipzig are looking for around £86m this summer ahead of the Croatian’s release clause kicking in next year.

City have yet to lodge a bid for the 21-year-old, regarded as one of the finest young talents in Europe, although remain keen on striking a deal with the Bundesliga side.

Pep Guardiola is hoping to upgrade his City squad in a bid to retain the Premier League title

Other new faces are dependant on the likes of Silva, though. Leicester City’s James Maddison and Gabriel Veiga have both caught the attention, as previously reported by Mail Sport.

It remains to be seen whether City firm up their interest in the Spain Under-21 international, who has a £35m release clause, while Tottenham have moved quickly to secure Maddison and are currently wrapping up a £40m move.

Mateo Kovacic sealed an initial £25m switch from Chelsea earlier this week, replacing departed captain Ilkay Gundogan, but there is not necessarily an alternative to Rice in the deep-lying position.

John Stones excelled there when switching positions – producing a man-of-the-match display in the Champions League final – while Kalvin Phillips is determined to prove himself at the Etihad Stadium.