There is a growing sense that this could be Pep Guardiola’s final season at Manchester City, according to a report, with Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca high among the club’s candidates to replace him.
David Ornstein reports for The Athletic that numerous well-placed sources outside of Manchester City are increasingly anticipating that this will be Pep Guardiola’s final season at the club.
A firm decision will likely be made later in the campaign, but City are now advancing on contingency planning in case Guardiola does depart.
One of the leading contenders to replace the Spanish coach is Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca, who has admirers at City since his own spell with the club as Guardiola’s assistant. Ornstein adds that Maresca isn’t the only contender.
Guardiola has a contract with City until 2027, but presumably there’s enough goodwill between the two parties that they’d part way amicably if that’s what the manager wanted.
As for Maresca, he has a contract at Chelsea until 2029, with an option for a further year. So someone would be getting a payoff before Maresca could join City, whether by virtue of Maresca’s sacking or by City buying out his contract.
At this stage, there’s evidently still a lot of dominoes that need to fall before Maresca replacing Guardiola can become a reality.
For what it’s worth, Ornstein’s article clarifies that there’s no suggestion the charges against Manchester City have any bearing on Guardiola’s situation.
And why should they? It seems we’re already locked in an endless wait for a decision, Guardiola’s contract will probably be up before any action is taken.