Former Arsenal forward Paul Merson has claimed that Manchester City could have "a long season" if new head coach Pep Guardiola insists on playing football from the back.

It is understood that Guardiola wants to replace England goalkeeper Joe Hart with Barcelona's Claudio Bravo as he attempts to replicate a style of football that he implemented at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

However, Merson has said that slow, possession football will not suit the Premier League.

"If they start playing along the back and giving the ball to the goalkeeper they will have a long season. It's alright abroad where teams sit off and wait until you get to halfway or 30 yards from goal, then everybody starts pressing," Merson told Sky Sports News.

"In this league teams will press and suffocate Man City and, without being disrespectful, they are not Bayern Munich or Barcelona, they are not that great on the ball."

Man City will travel to Stoke City in Saturday's early kickoff in the Premier League.