Pep Guardiola says he is ‘hopeful’ assistant Mikel Arteta will stay at Manchester City amid reports linking him to the vacant managerial positions at Arsenal and Everton.
The Spaniard has become an important part of the coaching staff at the Premier League champions since arriving at the club three years ago, working closely alongside Guardiola to help deliver back-to-back league titles and a domestic treble over the past two seasons.
The 37-year-old harbours ambitions to become a manager in his own right in the near future, and Arteta has been strongly linked with an exit from the Etihad after senior positions became available at two of his former sides over the past week.
Reports have suggested that Arteta is amongst the shortlist of potential candidates at both Arsenal and Everton, though ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby Guardiola says he remains hopeful Arteta will remain with the club until at least the end of the season.
Asked if there had been an approach for Arteta, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “No. He travelled to Burnley and tomorrow he will be close to me again against United.
“Hopefully he will stay but at the end of the season I don’t know what is going to happen.”
Pressed on whether he expects Arteta to stay till the end of the season, Guardiola replied: “He will be here until the end of the season, I think so.”
Man City head into this weekend’s derby meeting with United currently sitting third in the Premier League, their city rivals sitting three places further back in sixth following their victory over Tottenham in midweek.
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