Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes that Rico Lewis will remain at the Etihad Stadium beyond the summer transfer window, but he has refused to entirely rule out an exit before the September 1 deadline.
Lewis has recently been linked with a permanent move to Nottingham Forest, who have allegedly **‘launched a surprise swoop’**for the 20-year-old after signing midfielder James McAtee from Man City over the weekend.
However, Lewis has since publicly expressed his desire to remain at Man City, telling the Manchester Evening News: "For me, I've never, ever seen myself at a different club. I've always wanted to play for Man City.
“It's my dream club, and like you see today [against Wolves], when I'm playing with the kind of players I'm playing with, it brings out the best in me, so I'm so happy.”
Lewis, who started and provided an assist in Man City’s 4-0 opening win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League last Saturday, accepts that he needs to prove to Guardiola that he deserves to play regularly in the first team.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola on April 12, 2025
Guardiola thinks Lewis will stay at Man City, but he is not certain
"It's difficult; everyone wants assurance and security, but at the end of the day, it's on me to perform, take chances,” said Lewis. “If I take my chances, I do it. If I don't, then 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, so it's always the same goal, becoming an established player."
Guardiola has been informed by Lewis of his desire to remain at Man City, but the Catalan coach has suggested that there are no guarantees in a summer of change for the squad.
"I think he is going to stay. I think," Guardiola told reporters. "He told me that. But maybe tomorrow it changes.”
Guardiola added: “For the 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 were winning Premier Leagues. In his role he is an extraordinary player.
"But he is so small. If he was taller we’d say, 'oh what a player'. Today, I think he is going to stay, but I don’t know what is going to happen."
Manchester City's Rico Lewis on August 16, 2025
Forest-linked Lewis valued over £30m by Man City
Lewis joined Man City’s academy at the age of eight and worked his way through the club’s youth ranks before making his senior debut in the Premier League as a 17-year-old in August 2022.
At the same age, he became the youngster ever player to score on his Champions League debut just a few months later, and he has since made a total of 95 first-team appearances in all tournaments for the Citizens.
Lewis featured 44 times for Man City last season, but he is not considered as one of the first names on Guardiola’s team sheet and is currently battling with Matheus Nunes for regular starts at right-back, a position that is yet to be strengthened by the Citizens this summer following the departure of Kyle Walker.
The five-cap England international still has three years remaining on his contract at the Etihad and it is understood that Nottingham Forest would have to stump up a fee in excess of £30m if they wish to prise him away from Man City.
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