Pep Guardiola wants Dele Alli at Manchester City and is willing to break transfer record, says Xavi

The 21-year-old recently picked up the PFA Young Player of the Year award

Xavi said he regularly speaks with Guardiola about signing English players (Getty)

Pep Guardiola wants to bring Tottenham star Dele Alli to Manchester City – even if it takes a world record transfer – according to his former Barcelona captain Xavi.

Alli, who was named PFA Young Player of the Year on Sunday, joined Spurs in 2015 from MK Dons for only £5m, but is already attracting interest from the likes of Real Madrid.

City are also fans of the 21-year-old and have the financial resources to sign a player of his calibre, with Xavi suggesting Guardiola would have no problem in breaking the £89m fee paid by Manchester United to Juventus for Paul Pogba last summer.

“I speak with Pep, and I know he thinks it is important to sign English players,” Xavi told The Sun. “I am sure in the summer he will look also across Europe for players to improve the squad, but also I expect him to look in The Premier League as well.

“At the moment the best English player there is and also one of the best in Europe is Dele Alli. We are looking at a very special player.

“Technically he is the sort of player that Pep likes, the sort of player that suits the style of game that Pep likes his teams to play.

“I am sure it is not going to be a player that Tottenham will want to let go, but we know Manchester City have big resources.”