Updated: 24 Apr 2026 06:49 BST |
5 min read
Enzo Maresca is the ‘top candidate’ to become the next Manchester City managers amid ‘growing fears’ that Pep Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season.
City are in the midst of an heated battle with Arsenal to win the Premier League title as Guardiola’s side narrowly top the table on goals scored with five games remaining.
Despite the intensity of the run-in, speculation has continued to mount over Guardiola’s future even with the 55-year-old still having a year to run on his contract with City.
Guardiola has repeatedly suggested that his ten-year stint with City could soon end, although no formal decision has been made, however The Guardian report that sporting director Hugo Viana is leading contingency plans in case a managerial change is needed this summer.
And, having previously worked at City as a coach under Guardiola, Maresca is still considered the frontrunner for the role after leaving Chelsea in January, having held talks over the position while still in charge at Stamford Bridge.
However, the deal could prove complicated due to Maresca still having ‘contractual obligations’ to Chelsea after walking away under contract with more than three-and-a-half years remaining on his deal.
’One of the best managers in the world’: Guardiola approves Man City approach for Maresca
Guardiola has remained tight-lipped over the specifics of when he will leave City but the Spaniard has previously spoken candidly over his future and feels he is ‘closer to the end’ of his time with the club.
City are understood to be building contingency plans after a ‘growing feeling’ across the footballing world that a ‘major change’ is on the way, even though Guardiola has not communicated his decision as of yet, with his priority still on ending the season by lifting the Premier League title.
Maresca was called ‘one of the best managers in the world’ last December by Guardiola and previous reports suggested that the City boss had given his blessing to the Italian succeeding him in the job.
Reports also emerged in recent days that Maresca had identified his former Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez as a target if he did take over, with speculation then emerging of City’s interest in the Argentine international.
Guardiola also spoke this week over his belief that Vincent Kompany would one day become City manager after his legendary stint at the club as a player but he clarified that the Belgian still had ‘many years’ remaining as Bayern Munich boss before returning to the Etihad.
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