Rico Lewis had offered a transfer to Nottingham -forest in the summer window and has now made a decision after he had spoken with Manchester City -boss Pep Guardiola
Rico Lewis will sniff Nottingham Forest and sign a new contract with Manchester City. Forest had made an official approach to City for the versatile defender last week, but he has now decided to sit.
The 20-year-old defender came through the City Academy and has made 95 performances for the club. He was fed by Pep Guardiola, who played him in different positions and played 44 times last season.
Forest tried to seduce the full-back by offering to double his wages on the city after he signed his teammate James McATEE for £ 25 million. But Lewis said he was happy in City after playing in the 4-0 win over Wolves on the weekend and the Daily Mail reports that he will give new conditions with the club.
Lewis will sign a new five -year -old deal to increase his wages and to commit for another two years. His decision was in advance by Guardiola, who spoke with his defender after the approach of Forest and said that he was sure that he could keep him after opening the campaign with a pounding victory in Molineux.
“I think he will stay. I think,” he said. “He told me that. But maybe it will change tomorrow.
“For example, in case with Phil [Foden]For Rico, for Nico O'Reilly, I have special sympathy because they were 16 or 17 years old when they arrived here and we won Premier competitions. In his role he is an extraordinary player.
“But he is so small. If he was bigger, we would say,” Oh what a player. “Today I think he will stay, but I don't know what's going to happen.”
The interest of Forest came after conversations with City about a new deal and he was omitted from the team for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace at the end of last season, but he made it clear after the Wolves game that he never really considered. “For me I have never seen myself in another club,” said Lewis.
“I've always wanted to play for City. It's my dream club, and as you see today, when I play with the kind of players I play with, it brings the best in me, so I'm so happy.
“Everyone wants certainty and safety, but at the end of the day it is on me. It is up to me to perform. It is on me to take the opportunities. If I take my own opportunities, I do it. If I don't, I have to work and get better.
“Last season I played more than the season before, this season I want to play more than last season, so it's always the same goal, an established player.”
City did not sign right back in the summer transfer window and Lewis started against Wolves before he was replaced by Matheus Nunes.