Aymeric Laporte accepts that he will not be guaranteed a first-team place in the Manchester City side this season.
Pep Guardiola has indicated that he may sign a new central defender in the next couple of weeks following the departure of captain Vincent Kompany at the end of last season.
Laporte, who featured in 49 of City's 61 games in all competitions last season, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi are currently the club's only senior central defenders.
"Hopefully it can be the same this year, I am here to start. I am going to work for that," said the 25-year-old Frenchman, who joined City from Athletic Bilbao for £57milllion 18 months ago.
"I don't know [if the club will buy]. Ask Pep what he wants. I think the three of us are putting ourselves forward to play every game, but we don't decide. The club decides for us.
"Fernandinho is a very good player. I think he can play wherever he wants so, yes, he can play centre-back too.
"We will try [to do what we achieved last season]. I think we have the same team and there's someone else who has come in who can complete the team but we know it will be difficult."
City can be backed at 25/1 to win the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup once again in 2019/20.
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Aymeric Laporte accepts that he will not be guaranteed a first-team place in the Manchester City side this season.
Pep Guardiola has indicated that he may sign a new central defender in the next couple of weeks following the departure of captain Vincent Kompany at the end of last season.
Laporte, who featured in 49 of City's 61 games in all competitions last season, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi are currently the club's only senior central defenders.
"Hopefully it can be the same this year, I am here to start. I am going to work for that," said the 25-year-old Frenchman, who joined City from Athletic Bilbao for £57milllion 18 months ago.
"I don't know [if the club will buy]. Ask Pep what he wants. I think the three of us are putting ourselves forward to play every game, but we don't decide. The club decides for us.
"Fernandinho is a very good player. I think he can play wherever he wants so, yes, he can play centre-back too.
"We will try [to do what we achieved last season]. I think we have the same team and there's someone else who has come in who can complete the team but we know it will be difficult."
City can be backed at 25/1 to win the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup once again in 2019/20.
Source: bet365.com