Pep Guardiola is rebuilding his backroom staff at Manchester City in the search for fresh ideas, with the Spaniard targeting Premier League title rivals Liverpool
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 27: Josep 'Pep' Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, reacts prior to the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on September 27, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola has raided Liverpool for another appointment to his backroom staff
(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Manchester City are set to raid Liverpool for analyst James French as Pep Guardiola continues to revamp his backroom staff. Following a disappointing season that left City without a major trophy, their boss is looking to reinvigorate his reign.
He has started by dispatching with three key assistants, with Juanma Lillo, Carlos Vicens, and Inigo Dominguez all leaving the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola is pushing for new voices and ideas to challenge him next season.
That push has seen him look towards Liverpool to raise standards at City. Liverpool have been City's closest challengers over the past decade and are the only team in the past eight seasons to pip them to the Premier League title.
Legendary German manager Jurgen Klopp mostly led that challenge during his nine years at Anfield. He won the title in 2020, with the Reds repeating that success under his replacement Arne Slot this season.
Guardiola first targeted Klopp's regime, with his former assistant Pep Lijnders having already agreed a deal to join City. The Dutchman is expected to be in place in time for the Club World Cup, which starts in 10 days.
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According to The Athletic, City have followed that up by making a move for analyst French. The Portuguese-born anaylst has worked on opposition teams for the Reds since 2012, initally joining during Brendan Rodgers ' reign.
He has since become a key man under both Klopp and Slot, but said his goodbyes as Liverpool celebrated their title win last month. French is expected to take on a role focusing on set-piece coaching and analysis at City.
Lijnders meanwhile will return to the Premier League in the coming days. He was most recently head coach at Red Bull Salzburg, having decided to leave Anfield at the same time as Klopp.
KIRKBY, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 04: (THE SUN OUT, THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool and Pepijn Lijnders assistant manager of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on October 04, 2023 in Kirkby, England. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp's former assistant Pep Lijnders (left) is set to join Guardiola's staff
But he endured a disastrous reign in Austria and was sacked in December, with Salzburg 10 points behind Sturm Graz in the Bundesliga. Lijnders also held talks with Norwich City over their managers' job, though that has since gone to Liam Manning.
The Dutchman made a key step towards securing his move to City on Wednesday. Salzburg announced that they had come to an agreement with Lijnders to offically terminate his contract.
That move paves the way for him to link up with City as Guardiola's new lieutenant. Salzburg's Managing Director for Sport and General Manager hailed Lijnders as they confirmed the termination of his deal.
"After some very constructive and positive discussions in recent days, we have terminated the contract with our former coach Pepijn Lijnders by mutual agreement," Rouven Schröder and Stephan Reiter said in a joint statement.
"We would like to thank Pep once again for his hard work during his time with us and wish him all the very best for his future in football!"
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