Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is on Manchester City's list of possible replacements for Pep Guardiola, talkSPORT understands.
The Blues boss recently threw his future at Stamford Bridge into doubt, appearing to criticise the club's hierarchy over a lack of support following the 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday.
Guardiola is the second-longest serving manager in English football after more than nine years in charge of Man City
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Guardiola is the second-longest serving manager in English football after more than nine years in charge of Man CityCredit: Getty
Maresca is a readymade replacement given his previous experience at the Etihad
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Maresca is a readymade replacement given his previous experience at the EtihadCredit: Getty
Five days later, Maresca has emerged as a candidate to become the next Man City manager, as first reported by The Athletic.
Guardiola remains contracted to the Etihad until June 2027, having signed a contract extension last season, however, City are planning for the possibility of an exit next summer.
Chelsea declined to comment when approached by talkSPORT, although club insiders suspect Maresca's comments about the 'worst 48 hours' of his Blues career could be linked to this.
The Italian, who won the Conference League and the Club World Cup while securing a top-four finish in his first season in charge, has four-and-a-half years left on his Chelsea contract.
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City would need to approach their Premier League rivals and pay significant compensation to hire Maresca.
The 45-year-old is a former City coach, leading their Elite Development Squad between 2020 and 2021.
He returned to the Etihad in 2022 to become Guardiola's assistant manager for the treble-winning 2022/23 campaign.
City are currently second in the Premier League table, two points behind leaders Arsenal, while Chelsea are fourth and eight points off top spot.
Beginning of the end?
Maresca won the manager of the month award for November before a winless run of four games in a row turned adulation into pressure.
His outburst after Chelsea returned to winning ways against Everton was unprompted and widely considered to be a dig at the Blues' hierarchy.
Enzo Maresca reacts during a Chelsea game
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Maresca recently spoke out in what appeared to be a dig at Chelsea's hierarchyCredit: Getty
And ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan said that might come back to bite him.
"Like most people of influence and power, the Chelsea owners [Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly] wait for you in the long grass," Jordan told talkSPORT.
"And Maresca will find himself in that at some point. If he's looking for any latitude in the future, if the team goes on a wobble and he's looking for some support, he just burnt that bridge."
Despite the links to City, Maresca insisted he is happy at Stamford Bridge in his most recent media appearance after the 3-1 Carabao Cup victory at Cardiff.
Asked if he felt backed by the club, Maresca said: "Tonight the focus has to be that we reached the semi-final, the support from fans has always been there.
"We are going in the right direction, everything I do is because I want the best for everyone - the fans, players, everyone."
I want him gone! Chelsea fan calls for Enzo Maresca to be SACKED and replaced by club legend!
Could Guardiola leave Man City next summer?
Of course, Maresca's potential move to Man City would only happen when Guardiola leaves the club.
But at the moment, the Spaniard's departure date is not confirmed, despite City planning for an early exit in 2026.
Guardiola spoke about his future at the Etihad earlier this year, telling GQ: "I know that after this stage with City I'm going to stop, that's for sure, it's decided, more than decided.
"I'm going to leave after this stage with City, because I need to stop and focus on myself, on my body."
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He continued: "I think I know how to stop at the right moment.
"The same thing happened to me with my coaching job [at Barcelona], there came a time when I said enough is enough. I'm going to look for another challenge."