Manchester City round-up: Real Madrid’s Pepe to snub China; Pep Guardiola gives ultimatum; City ruled out Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante

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According to reports in Spain, out-of-favour Real Madrid defender Pepe is set to snub a £12 million-a-year deal in China’s Super League amidst interest from Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain.

Despite already having a move to Hebei China Fortune agreed, Marca claims that the 34-year-old defender desires a two-year deal in either Paris or Manchester once his contract runs out this year.

Pepe, who won Euro 2016 as part of the Portugal squad, has been told by Zinedine Zidane that he has no role in his future plans at the Bernabeu, only making 11 appearances in La Liga so far.

Yet it is believed that the lure of playing Champions League football has led him into this U-turn, combined with Portugal manager Fernando Santos telling Pepe that his spot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia could be in severe jeopardy if he chooses to move to China at the end of the season.

Ahead of their crucial clash against Premier League leaders Chelsea on Wednesday, Pep Guardiola has insisted that his players are now playing for their places at the club from now until the end of the season.

Despite getting a set-back in their title-challenge after drawing with Arsenal at the weekend, City are still in pole position for a top four spot and face an FA Cup semi-final date with the Gunners in late April.

Speaking on Tuesday, The Sun reports Guardiola said:

“We will think about it, we discuss with the chairman, with Txiki Begiristain, all the bosses here. Every club wants to improve and of course the changes are necessary but we are going to discuss at the end of the season.

“At the end, the players decide for themselves through their performances on the pitch.”

Seven members of the first-team squad are out of contract when the season ends, including Yaya Toure and Willy Caballero, and the Spaniard has urged them to earn a new deal at the Etihad.

Meanwhile, the Manchester Evening News has reported that Manchester City never made an approach for Chelsea’s midfield maestro N’Golo Kante during the recent summer transfer window.

The report alleges that the club ruled out any potential move before Guardiola arrived in Manchester, and weren’t tempted by the relatively low £30 million price tag placed on the Frenchman.

The 26-year-old midfielder has been a sensation in the previous two seasons, firing Leicester City to a shock title win before helping Chelsea lead Tottenham by seven points at the top of the table.

It is believed that Guardiola had his sights set on Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan before his move to the Etihad, and decided to focus on acquiring his signature ahead of Kante’s.

City will come up against Kante when they take the trip to London to face Chelsea on Wednesday evening at Stamford Bridge.

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