Man City 'discussing two managers' in case Pep Guardiola leaves Etihad next summer

Manchester City bosses have reportedly discussed two names as possible replacements for Pep Guardiola.

The six-time Premier League winner is in the final months of his contract with the Blues, and he is yet to decide whether or not to sign a 12-month extension. Guardiola will have been in charge of the club for nine years at the end of this season and he has already established himself as one of the best managers in the history of English football.

Whoever replaces Guardiola, if he decides to jump ship, will have huge shoes to fill. The 53-year-old is seeking a fifth successive Premier League title this campaign and he has led City to a stunning treble in 2022/23.

According to The Athletic, Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim are two names under consideration. City have just appointed Hugo Viana to succeed Txiki Begiristain as sporting director from the start of next season, and the Portuguese shared a dressing room with Amorim both internationally and with Braga.

Viana has been director of football at Sporting, where Amorim is currently in charge, since 2018. And City are said to be 'open' to the idea of ​​bringing them together if Guardiola leaves.

Amorim, 39, spent four years in charge of Sporting and is considered one of the most exciting young managers in world football. He was previously the subject of strong links with Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool.

Alonso is another new arrival who is attracting interest from City bosses. The 42-year-old won the league and cup double in his first season with Bayer Leverkusen, remaining unbeaten throughout the Bundesliga campaign.

But his experience is limited, having only managed Real Sociedad's reserve team before 2022. Naturally, City's priority is to secure Guardiola's future before trying to charm two of the most successful managers. most promising in Europe.

The Blues are currently waging a legal battle with the Premier League over 115 alleged breaches of financial rules. Guardiola would be more likely to extend his stay at the Etihad “in defiance” if the club were found guilty.

Speaking during the international break, Guardiola confirmed his future was still up in the air. “Leaving City? It's not true, I haven't decided yet,” he told Che tempo Che Fa. “And it's not even true that I will be the next coach of the England If I had decided, I would say it… I don’t know either, anything can happen.”