Pep Guardiola to step up chase for defensive reinforcements with Aleksandar Kolarov set for Roma

Guardiola has already spent £50m on right-back Kyle Walker and has seen a £44.5m bid for Benjamin Mendy rejected by Monaco as he looks to overhaul his backline

Pep Guardiola is in the market for defensive reinforcements (Getty)

Pep Guardiola will step up his chase for defensive reinforcements after Aleksandar Kolarov told him he wants to leave Manchester City.

Guardiola has already spent £50m on right-back Kyle Walker and has seen a £44.5m bid for Benjamin Mendy rejected by Monaco as he looks to overhaul his backline.

Kolarov's exit to Serie A side Roma only increases City's need for more depth at the back having this summer released Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy.

And speaking after seeing his side lose 2-0 to Manchester United in Houston the City boss confirmed Serbian Kolarov, who has won two Premier League titles at the Etihad, is joining them in walking out the door.

"Kolarov is one step from going to Roma .I don't like to work with people who doesn't want to stay," . "Kola helped me a lot last season in terms of many, many things, but he has a big chance to come back to Rome where he was before.

"He spoke to me, with the club but especially to me, and said he would like to leave and I don't like to live still with players that don't want to stay. That's what it is the best option for everybody, especially for him.

"I wish him all the best because he is a really nice guy. We had an excellent relationship with him, I was very pleased to train him and I wish him and his family the best."

Guardiola is hoping to bring in Real Madrid's Danilo, who the manager is understood to be open to playing in both full-back positions and defensive midfield.

Monaco left-back Mendy is a long-standing target, but Guardiola is not getting het up about the lack of new additions.

"The season is so long," the City boss said. "Of course we would like to have the players as soon as possible. We have 11 months in front of us to play a lot of games so important to arrive when they can arrive, when it is possible to arrive. If not, we're going to find solutions.

"But we knew that from the beginning. Today we know the transfer market and how complicated it is for all the clubs. We're going to find the best solution to help us to improve, but both for example Ederson and Kyle (Walker) made an outstanding performance so the guys who came will help us a lot."