> Vincent Kompany is Man City’s number one target to replace Pep Guardiola, sources have told Football Inisder. There is a growing sense within Premier League circles that the Spaniard, 55, will leave after a decade in charge at the end of the season.
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> City have started to plan for the possibility of his departure by holding preliminary talks with potential managerial replacements. Enzo Maresca, who worked at City as Guardiola’s assistant, informed Chelsea that he had spoken to representatives of City and Juventus before being sacked by the London club last month.
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> Xabi Alonso will also be of strong interest to the Premier League giants following his departure from Real Madrid. But Kompany is said by sources to be City’s first choice, although luring him from Bayern Munich may be an almost impossible task.
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> One factor in their favour is Kompany’s strong emotional attachment to the club he skippered to multiple trophies during the best days of his playing career.