Manchester City eyeing Liverpool icon to replace Guardiola

With all the talk about Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City after next season, it appears the premier league club is moving into Plan B before the sun even rises.

Manchester City are reportedly narrowing their focus on one standout candidate to replace Pep Guardiola, according to new insights from Football Transfers. Xabi Alonso has emerged as the prime contender to succeed the highly successful Guardiola, should he decide to depart at the end of his contract.

City made history recently by clinching a record fourth consecutive Premier League title on the final day of the season.

This triumph marked the 17th major trophy under Guardiola’s leadership, solidifying his legacy as the most successful manager in the club’s history. Guardiola, who has been at the helm since the 2016/17 season, celebrated his 300th Premier League game in charge in May.

However, following the latest silverware addition, Guardiola hinted at an uncertain future. Speaking to Sky Sports, he state;

“The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying. We have talked with the club – my feeling is that I want to stay now. I will stay next season and during the season we will talk. But eight or nine years – we will see.”

Guardiola’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, prompting City to prepare for a potential managerial transition. The club’s hierarchy appears to be in unanimous agreement that Alonso, the former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder, is the ideal successor to continue Guardiola’s legacy.

Since taking charge of Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022, Alonso has demonstrated his managerial prowess by transforming the German side into formidable competitors. Under his guidance, Leverkusen achieved an extraordinary feat by completing an entire Bundesliga season without a defeat, setting a European record with 51 consecutive games unbeaten.

Guardiola, committed to honoring his current contract, shared his thoughts in a post-match press conference following the season’s final game against West Ham.

Reflecting on his motivation, he said,

“Last year, after Istanbul, I said ‘it’s over, there’s nothing left’. But I have a contract and I start to think ‘no-one has done four in a row, why don’t we try?’ And now I feel it’s done, so what next? Now I don’t know what exactly the motivation is because it’s difficult to find it when everything is done.

“The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying. We’ve had discussions with the club; my feeling right now is that I want to stay. I’m going to stay next season and during the season we will chat. But another eight or nine years we’ll see.”