According to a source, Manchester City are ‘poised to make a bid’ for Pep Guardiola’s successor, a development that will go down like a lead balloon at Liverpool.
Guardiola led Manchester City to their fourth consecutive Premier League victory last season, and their sixth overall in seven years. Questions remain over the club’s 115 Financial Fair Play fines, but one thing is certain: Guardiola is one of the best managers in English football history.
However, the 53-year-old has recently hinted that his future may not be at the Etihad.
Guardiola’s current contract expires at the end of the 2024/25 season, and the Spaniard’s future plans have sparked speculation.
“Last year, after Istanbul (Champions League final), I said ‘it’s over, there’s nothing left’,” Guardiola stated last month.
“But I have a contract, and I start to think, ‘No one has won four Premier League titles in a row, so why don’t we try?'” And now I feel like it’s finished, so what comes next?
“Now I don’t know what exactly the motivation is because it’s difficult to find it when everything is done.”
Guardiola then added fuel to the fire when speaking to media following City’s latest Premier League victory.
“The reality is, I am closer to leaving than staying [after next season],” said the City manager.
Manchester City have lined up a Liverpool legend to succeed Guardiola.
If Guardiola decides to leave in 2025, he will end his trophy-laden tenure at the Etihad after nine years. That is the same amount of time his great rival Jurgen Klopp spent at Liverpool before deciding to take a vacation from the game.
The Reds eventually hired Dutchman Arne Slot to take over at Anfield, although they considered hiring Xabi Alonso first.
Alonso has received high praise for his outstanding performance at Bayer Leverkusen, as he led the club to its first Bundesliga triumph last season.
Liverpool contacted Alonso, but he chose to stay at Leverkusen for at least one more season.
However, according to online publication Football Transfers, Alonso has been lined up as Guardiola’s replacement for the 2025/26 season and beyond.
Xabi Alonso has completely satisfied the Manchester City hierarchy.
According to them, Manchester City’s hierarchy has unanimously agreed that Alonso is the ideal candidate to succeed Guardiola and carry on his legacy at the club.
Accordingly, Manchester City are ‘poised to make a move’ for Alonso, with the goal of replacing Guardiola in a year’s time.
That revelation would undoubtedly raise alarms at Liverpool, who would be unhappy to see a Reds-connected figure join Manchester City.
Alonso played with Liverpool from 2004 to 2009, and he helped the club win the Champions League on that unforgettable night in Istanbul in 2005.
Despite his relative inexperience, Alonso has already established himself to be a cutting-edge manager, and Man City appear to believe he is the ideal option to succeed Guardiola.
Alonso can help Manchester City with two transfers.
Furthermore, according to the article, Man City believes that employing Alonso will assist the club complete two major deals in the coming year.
Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz are both on Man City’s radar.
Wirtz is regarded as the natural successor to Kevin De Bruyne as the team’s key creator, while Zubimendi, who has previously confessed that Alonso is his footballing idol, would relieve Rodri of midfield responsibilities.
Real Madrid is reported to be interested in Wirtz, and the presence of Alonso could be just what City needs to swing a deal their way rather than to the Bernabeu.
