Manchester City are now reportedly eyeing their Premier League rivals to replace Pep Guardiola if he leaves the club next summer.
Guardiola praises ‘fantastic’ Cherki
While spending records were shattered in the Premier League last summer, Man City kept their cool and snatched up a gem in Rayan Cherki for around £30m. It seemed like a bargain at the time, and it certainly continues to be so now that the Frenchman has made an excellent start at the Etihad after suffering an initial injury.
It was Cherki’s rabona assist for Phil Foden against Sunderland that grabbed the headlines at the start of the month, but it was revealed before Christmas that he still had his moment of brilliance – his incredible strike against Brentford on Wednesday night.
Even Guardiola couldn’t help but praise his tricky midfield star after such a sensational strike, telling reporters at full-time: “He scored a great goal.
“You don’t have to be a blind man, a blind woman, a journalist or a manager to know that it was a great goal. And with Phil, we’ve had this type of goal many times before. I was very happy that it started the game.”
It’s no exaggeration to say that Man City are back to their best form as a result, reaching the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, but this could only spell bad news for the rest of the Premier League.
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As it stands, the Citizens sit two points behind leaders Arsenal and are ready to pounce on any blunder in north London. They’ve been here before, they’ve done it before and it could even be Guardiola’s last hurray.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Man City are currently targeting Enzo Maresca as part of Guardiola’s ‘contingency plan’. The Manchester club are reportedly “advancing” plans in case their iconic manager chooses to leave next summer.
Man City target Enzo Maresca
It would be a fitting moment if Maresca, Guardiola’s former assistant, returns to take charge at the Etihad next summer. The Italian has gradually started to prove himself at Chelsea, winning the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025, but he could still be on his way away from Stamford Bridge.
The reports that City are on the lookout for Maresca certainly come at a bad time for those in west London, after Maresca claimed he did not have the club’s full support following last weekend’s win over Everton. Add to those tensions the possibility of an approach from City and there could be quite a stir.
Maresca’s chances may improve if Guardiola has a say in the matter. A few weeks ago, the city boss told reporters when asked about his former assistant: “I know Enzo Maresca, one of the best managers in the world, but he doesn’t get enough credit for his work at Chelsea.
“It’s a very tough league for young teams, so qualifying for the Club World Cup, Conference League and Champions League is special.”
