Pep Guardiola has admitted that he is keen for Manchester City "legend" David Silva to commit his future to the club with a new contract.
The 31-year-old, a part of the Etihad Stadium fold since 2010, has two years left to run on his existing deal and is in talks over a one-year extension.
Guardiola will only be happy once Silva puts pen to paper, as he feels that the Spanish midfielder still has a big part to play at City in the years to come, particularly when it comes to helping the younger players emerge into the first team.
"When he can finally sign the contract we'll be so happy," he told reporters. "The club needs players who've played here for a long time to help players like Phil Foden in the future.
"What I like the most about David - being a guy who's a bit serious in his life, a little bit shy - is how competitive he is, and aggressive, in winning duels, when normally he is a guy more about technique and the pass. I admire him a lot.
"He perfectly suits Spanish football but here with the speed and the weather, the wind and the tough conditions, he has survived for a long time. I put a lot of attention on how players react in bad moments, during the game and in bad situations.
"David is always there and that's so important for the club. Like Yaya Toure, Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta, and many other players, he's a real legend for this club. I hope he'll continue for the next years."
Silva has started all 13 of Man City's Premier League games this season, accruing eight assists and one goal for the table toppers.
Daniel Lewis
