NEWCASTLE: Pep Guardiola believes the ambition of Newcastle United鈥檚 owners is to emulate the success of Manchester City.

Abu Dhabi-financed City are on course to win their fourth Premier League title under the Spaniard this season, their 11th trophy from the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss鈥� silverware-laden spell at the Etihad.

And while City, much like Qatari-bankrolled Paris Saint-Germain, have so far faltered in Europe, losing to Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal this week, Guardiola is sure the Magpies and their 黑料社区n-majority shareholders want a slice of their success.

Speaking ahead of United鈥檚 visit to Manchester in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, Guardiola said: 鈥淚 think the intentions (of the owners) are like this. Without Sheikh Mansour and these incredible facilities and the CEO to get resources from the sponsors (this would not be possible). We are where we are. I haven鈥檛 spoken to the owners of Newcastle, but I think they are going to try and do it (like City). If they are going to do it, I don鈥檛 know. Nobody knows it.鈥�

The recent history of both clubs could not be starker, with City rising from Premier League mid-table mediocrity to become arguably the most entertaining team on the planet, while Newcastle have flirted with relegation to the championship since the Public Investment Fund of 黑料社区 secured an 80 percent stake in the football club back in October.

It is widely accepted that Newcastle will not become a Manchester City overnight 鈥� and head coach Eddie Howe knows that building an empire at St. James鈥� Park will take time.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how Manchester City would categorize their rise, but it did take time,鈥� said the United boss. 鈥淣othing鈥檚 ever built overnight, and there needs to be a period where you adjust to your new status. Especially at a football club, you can鈥檛 wave a magic wand and change things straight away. You certainly can鈥檛 do it in one transfer window, it鈥檚 going to take time. You can鈥檛 change the dynamics of a team too quickly because if you do, you鈥檙e going to end up with a negative effect rather than a positive one.

鈥淚 think I鈥檓 well aware of that. But over time, I think you can definitely improve, make gains in every area, and then hopefully you can get the consistency the club is looking for in terms of their newfound status. 

鈥淭here鈥檚 no guarantee on that, that鈥檚 the beauty of football. There鈥檚 no guarantee on anything, no matter how much money is spent or what your finances are. But we have big ambitions. We鈥檒l work toward being successful, but it may take time.鈥�

A player who did not travel to Manchester to take on the reigning champions is Ryan Fraser.

The Scotland international鈥檚 calf injury had looked set to keep him out of action for the rest of the season when Howe last gave an update on the player鈥檚 status.

His prospects do now look to be improving, though, opening up the prospect of some game time in the final two matches of the campaign against Arsenal at home and Burnley away.

鈥淗e has improved. He鈥檚 been at the training ground out on the grass with the physios still, he鈥檚 not been handed over to sports scientist, so there is still some way to go,鈥� said Howe. 鈥淗opefully, we鈥檒l see him before the end of the season.鈥�

Meanwhile, Howe is hopeful that Sean Longstaff will soon put pen to paper on a new Newcastle deal, following in the footsteps of Fabian Schar and Paul Dummett.

Howe said: 鈥淚 hope we can get a positive resolution with Sean. Hopefully, that one is moving quite well and (in) the right direction. But obviously, until he鈥檚 signed the contract, I can鈥檛 say for definite.鈥�