New Man City kit: Pep Guardiola to help design Puma kit for next season

The City manager will have an input with a view to improving performance on the pitch

Pep Guardiola's input at Manchester City could extend to helping design his team's next shirt.

The City manager is renowned for his thorough approach and the club are prepared to let him have a say as they launch a new kit this summer.

This has become possible as part of the Premier League champions' new kit deal with Puma, which was announced on Thursday and will take effect from July.

City are switching to the German manufacturer from current supplier Nike in a long-term deal understood to be worth £65 million per year over 10 years.

City chief executive Ferran Soriano said: "Pep and the coaches are interested in the technical aspects of the shirt and the training gear. They are very interested and their demands are very high."

Guardiola often catches the eye for his choice of clothing but Soriano insists his thoughts on this matter are nothing to do with fashion.

He said: "It's in terms of weight and so on to manage the heat and the sweat - not so much the colours but the technical aspects!"

Pep Guardiola during the midweek win vs West Ham (Action Images via Reuters)

City's new kit deal with Puma will be the second biggest in the Premier League, behind only Manchester United's £75 million-per-year agreement with adidas.

The arrangement, signed with the club's holding company City Football Group, also includes sister outfits Melbourne City, Girona, Club Atletico Torque and Sichuan Jiuniu. Kits will be supplied for all men's, women's and junior teams at those clubs.