David Silva is set to extend his contract to stay at Manchester City for the rest of an extended season – which Pep Guardiola hopes will culminate in Champions League glory and a rush to be ready for the 2020/21 campaign.
The City captain’s current contract expires on June 30 and he would be ineligible for the run-in if he did not sign a new deal.
Manager Guardiola regrets that Silva will be denied the send-off he deserves for 10 years of outstanding service but said City are already planning to welcome him back so their fans can pay tribute.
He said: “He will stay until the end of the season. It is unfortunate he is going to finish his last games here without people. The situation is what it is.
"No one wants it. But he is coming back and hopefully he can have the big farewell.
"Always the clubs become big when they make the big gestures to these players for what they have done for more than one decade.
“It was Vincent Kompany, it was Joe Hart, Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta. They make the club what it is. The club will make an agreement with David and do what they have to do.”
Silva’s final act in a City shirt could be to lift the Champions League trophy, potentially in Lisbon deep into August, but September 12 has been mooted as a date for next season to start.
“We would love to not have a break before next season for the Premier League,” added Guardiola. “It would be incredible news for us. It means we go through.”
City return to action against Arsenal on Wednesday with Leroy Sane available to make his first appearance since August and Aymeric Laporte back after an injury-hit season.
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