Manchester City have reportedly already lined up a replacement for Pep Guardiola after it was confirmed that the Etihad chief could walk away from the club this summer.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has been at City since 2016, overseeing an incredible run of success in that time. And only last year he signed a new contract with the club until 2025.
However, recent reports have suggested that the reigning Premier League champions believe the 52-year-old could quit at the end of the season, if he decides his time in Manchester is done.
The seven years he has spent in charge of City is already his longest managerial stint at one club. And there can be no argument over what the Spaniard has achieved with the club.
He has guided City to four Premier League titles, four Carabao Cups and an FA Cup triumph in that time.
Champions League success still eludes him. But with the prolific Erling Haaland leading the attack, City face a quarter-final clash against his old club Bayern in the search for European glory.
And it appears that Guardiola has put all his eggs in that basket, given that Arsenal are eight points clear in the Premier League title race.
But this season could well be the last in the City dugout for Guardiola. That’s according to a fresh report from Europe, as relayed by The Sun.
The report states that behind the scenes, City fear that the Spaniard is ready to move on. To that end, they have already started looking at alternatives and have earmarked Guardiola’s former Spain teammate Luis Enrique as his replacement.
Enrique reveals Premier League desire
The 52-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by the Spain national team after the Qatar World Cup.
Enrique himself also admits he is keen on managing in England, having been heavily tipped to take over from Antonio Conte at Tottenham in the summer.
He Ser Gijon: “I would like to try an experience in Premier League. But I’d only accept an interesting project.
“I’d only join a club where I can do big, important things. I’ve received proposals from national teams — I keep all options open.”
City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, is known to be a big admirer of Enrique. He also believes he would seamlessly slot in as Guardiola’s replacement, in terms of the attacking brand of football.
The report also adds that City have already spoken with Enrique’s representatives. Indeed, they are ready to offer a potential three-year package that is worth £14m-a-season
It just remains to be seen what decision Guardiola makes in the summer. Although there’s a strong feeling that if City win the Champions League then he’d happily walk away.
