Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he will let his players choose the Premier League champions' next captain.
Previous skipper Vincent Kompany retired at the end of last season.
Midfielder David Silva captained City for Wednesday's pre-season 4-0 friendly win against West Ham in China but a permanent replacement will not be made until all the squad are back from summer breaks.
"They will choose the captain when we are all together," Guardiola said.
"After they are all back (they are) going to make a meeting and decide who is going to be captain."
Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne says he would be happy to take on the role if he was offered it.
He said: "If the team wants me to be captain, or the club does, I would gladly accept it but I think that's something everybody needs to talk about as a team, as a club.
"This will be talked about when everyone comes back."
zucceikmst
58
This is the right way. Let the players vote for their leader. Fans don't know all of what goes in behind the scenes. They don't know who's the glue, the one that keeps everyone together on and off the pitch. The manager doesn't necessarily experience the full leadership that the players get from their teammates. I don't think you can go wrong with letting players pick their captain, that way, the best leader of the dressing room should always get the armband.Maybe not the flashiest, or the best, just someone who can be relied upon to lead the team. I'll be interested to see their choice, because Kompany has always been heralded for his leadership off the pitch as much as on it.
thecityfan
44
David Silva deserves it for his final season because he is a legend, once he has left either Aguero, De Bruyne, or Sterling.