Manchester City are preparing to replace manager Josep Guardiola amid talk that he will leave with three players to replace the Catalans Xabi Alonso and Enzo Maresca.
Josep Guardiola has been increasingly linked with a move away from Man City (Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Manchester City have three players on their shortlist amid mounting speculation that this season could be Josep Guardiola’s final season in charge at the Etihad as he plans to move on.
The Catalan player’s contract runs until the end of next season, but the team continues to slump a year after Guardiola tried to shake up an aging squad. They currently sit six points behind leaders Arsenal, and club leaders are considering who will replace the current manager.
The fact that Enzo Maresca has claimed to have spoken to City leaders underlines the fact that they are looking at their next move. He worked as Guardiola’s assistant at City but was sacked by the Blues last month. According to the Telegraph, he is expected to be one of the favorites to win the title in Manchester.
Xabi Alonso is also among the players being considered to replace Guardiola, with the Spaniard having played under the City manager during his time at Bayern. He won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen and emerged as one of the next generation of managers.
That helped him get the job at Real Madrid, but it only lasted half a season amid rumors of internal problems. However, this has not affected his reputation and he remains in demand. If Liverpool change managers, there is a strong possibility that they will move to sign Alonso.
read more: Mikel Arteta says Premier League title race is over: ‘Open a nice glass of wine’read more: Man City manager Josep Guardiola risks punishment for sarcastic VAR comments after Tottenham goal
City could also consider signing another of Guardiola’s former players, Cesc Fabregas. The former Chelsea player and his exploits at Como have fans flocking to him. Currently sitting sixth in Italy’s Serie A, it is expected that he will only leave the Italian club for one of the biggest jobs in the Premier League or in Europe.
Vincent Kompany won the Bundesliga title with Bayern and has had an even more impressive campaign this season. He has a proud history with the Manchester team, but it would be surprising if he were to leave the Allianz Arena.
Xabi Alonso remains a man with an impressive reputation (Image: Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Guardiola has made history since joining from Bayern Munich in 2016. He has won six Premier League titles and became the first player to win four times on the bounce. His first title saw City become the first team to collect 100 points in a season.
In addition to these victories, Guardiola has also won a number of domestic cups, including the domestic treble in 2018/19, an unprecedented feat. The Catalan will win the Champions League in 2023, making him equal to Sir Alex Ferguson as the only player to win the treble.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check it out whenever you like. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
Sky Sports Premier League and EFL package discounts
£49
£35
sky
Get the deal here
Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 on their bill and offering more than 1,400 live matches from Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, with an increase of up to 100 more.
