Pep Guardiola has spoken out about James Trafford's future.placeholder image
Pep Guardiola has spoken out about James Trafford's future. | Getty Images
For 10 years Pep Guardiola has dominated English football, could he be about to leave?
Man City went early with their work in the winter transfer window, reminding those around them about their status in the English game.
They might not be sitting top of the Premier League table, but if they want a player, there is nobody better at going out and getting the deal done. City were never favourites to complete either deal and yet bullied the rest of the teams interested to land Antoine Semenyo before trumping that deal to sign Marc Guehi, wanted by every top club in Europe and all but promised to Liverpool.
Man City draw up Pep Guardiola replacement shortlist
Despite the individual quality of both players, City fans are yet to see the desired impact with Arsenal’s slip-ups being followed by Pep Guardiola’s own frustrations. Defensive lapses and Erling Haaland misplacing his shooting boots has led to an indifferent run of form during a period that City usually pick up the pace. An observation that has seen the future of Guardiola questioned after 10 years at the helm.
One source told The Telegraph that City’s capitulation against Tottenham gave an insight into what Guardiola and the players might be thinking about already for next season: “Tottenham were there for the taking, but City weren’t ruthless. They let them off the hook. Some of the players look like they think Pep is leaving at the end of the season and, as a result, they are going through the motions.”
Another source told The Telegraph that: “It just doesn’t look as though it means as much to them as Arsenal. Most of them have won all those trophies and if they win the title, then great. But if they don’t, does it mean as much? [Erling] Haaland was laughing with Tottenham players near the end of the game, when City needed a goal.”
The report claims that work behind the scenes is already under way to identify a potential replacement with five names being added to a shortlist. Some are more obvious than others, but each make sense and have their own merit in terms of knowledge of the Premier League and of experience of winning trophies/delivering a certain style of football.
Five names who City are keeping an eye on
Enzo Maresca knows City well from his time as Guardiola’s deputy and he is almost the obvious choice. It would be a surprise if Pep doesn’t recommend his right-hand man should he decide to cash in his chips with the disclosure of talks with his former club leading to his departure at Chelsea. There is obviously a plan in place and Maresca is part of that plan.
Another out of work manager is Xabi Alonso having parted ways with Real Madrid, like Maresca, his parting wasn’t specifically down to results, moreso an issue behind the scenes reported to be cause by players unhappy at the demands being placed on them. The position Madrid were in and his success at Bayer Leverkusen keeps Alonso’s CV clean, although Liverpool might get trigger happy if they think that the prodigal son could end up at the Etihad.
Roberto De Zerbi and Vincent Kompany have also been mooted only for doubts about ability and availability respectively to see their names bumped down the pecking order behind one of Europe’s most promising young managers.
Cesc Fabregas has his Como side sitting in sixth place in Serie A and it hasn’t gone unnoticed with City adding the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder’s name to their potential list of candidates to replace Guardiola – if he decides that enough, is enough.
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