Pep Guardiola has told friends he is open to staying at Manchester City for the next four years.

Guardiola’s current deal runs until June 2021 and the City manager spoke publicly after the victory over Watford about the prospect of staying for a year beyond that as he dismissed suggestions of a verbal agreement to join Juventus.

But it is understood Guardiola has floated the possibility in private of committing to two more years beyond the end of his existing deal, which would tie him to the Premier League champions until 2023 and extend his tenure at the club to seven years.

City’s owners want Guardiola to stay for a decade and build a dynasty at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola himself sees huge scope for growth at City and claimed last year that he did “not rule out continuing to lead in 10 years”, even though he said it would depend on how he and his family felt and whether the club still wanted him.

Reports over the weekend linked Guardiola with Juventus but, despite City facing the threat of a two-window transfer ban and potential expulsion from the Champions League for a season as Uefa, Fifa, the Football Association and Premier League mount investigations into the club’s financial affairs and recruitment practices, the Catalan is firmly committed.