Txiki Begiristain's 12-year stay at Man City is set to end this season. (Image: Getty)
Manchester City already know who they want to replace Txiki Begiristain as the club's new director of football.
Begiristain spent 12 hugely successful years with the club, winning seven Premier League titles and one Champions League – the latest part of a league and cup treble in 2023.
It was reported earlier on Tuesday afternoon that Begiristain is expected to step down at the end of the season.
The move is believed to have the full support of the club's hierarchy, with Begiristain having made it clear he is not willing to work beyond his 60th birthday.
Begiristain turned 60 in August and City are understood to have been in contact with his replacement, who is expected to start work in the new year.
It's a move that will see Begiristain's successor shadow him for six months, before taking the reins ahead of what could be a crucial summer transfer window.
According to reports, this man could be current Sporting CP DoF Hugo Viana.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed the 41-year-old is top of City's list, having impressed in the role with Portuguese giants Sporting.
Viana took over as DoF manager at Sporting in 2018 and has overseen numerous successful transfer deals, including the £17.5 million purchase of striker Viktor Gyokeres from EFL Championship Coventry City – a player who is now valued at almost £60 million.
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Hugo Viana is being touted as a potential replacement for Txiki Begiristain at Man City. (Image: Getty)
Viktor Gyokeres is just one of the success stories from Hugo Viana's time as DoF at Sporting. (Image: Getty)
Other successes include the purchases of Ousmane Diomande and Morten Hjulmand – two players currently linked with a move to the Premier League.
Viana also has an impressive track record of overseeing player sales, with all three major record departures for Sporting taking place during his tenure at DoF.
The Lisbon-based side have sold current City ace Matheus Nunes to Wolves for £38m in 2023, with Manuel Ugarte (£50m) and Bruno Fernandes (£47m) both having been sold to their rivals Manchester United.
Sporting ended a 20-year wait for a Portuguese league title under Viana's tenure, with Ruben Amorim's side winning the 2020/21 and 2023/24 championships.
The Sporting manager had been touted as a move to Liverpool over the summer when the Merseyside side were linked with Ruben Amorim as a possible replacement for Jurgen Klopp.
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But perhaps more importantly, City already have a working relationship with Viana.
It was reported by Portuguese newspaper Record in 2019 that the Blues had entered into an “alliance” with Sporting regarding a scouting and player development partnership – a deal which was initially struck by soon-to-be ex-Dof Begiristain.
As a player, Viana enjoyed a journeyman career, which included a four-year spell in the Premier League at Newcastle United.
However, the Barcelos-born star spent the majority of his time under contract with the North East side on loan, failing to settle at St. James' Park.
Viana made his Portugal debut in 2001 and earned an impressive 29 caps, including team appearances in four major tournaments.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1959192/man-city-next-director-of-football-hugo-viana