Manchester City are reportedly interested in recruiting Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso should Pep Guardiola leave next summer.
The 53-year-old Spaniard is approaching nine years on the blue side of Manchester, after being brought to the club during the summer of 2016.
Guardiola boasts a marvellous record in charge of the Citizens, winning 357 of his 483 official matches, losing on just 66 occasions at the helm of the English powerhouses.
Over a eight-year period, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich man has won the Premier League six times, as well as a Champions League honour in 2023.
Man City and Guardiola will be looking to continue their hunt for a fifth straight domestic crown when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.
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Man City to replace Guardiola with Alonso?
According to The Athletic, Man City have commenced planning for the eventuality in which current head coach Guardiola departs next summer.
The 53-year-old's contract is up at the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign, meaning he would be free to end his nine-year association with the Citizens.
It is understood that Man City are admirers of Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso, who guided the German side to the Bundesliga title as invincibles last season.
There is also believed to be fondness of Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim on the blue side of Manchester, where the Citizens will be looking to continue their era of dominance domestically following the exit of Guardiola.
Man City's incoming sporting director Hugo Viana was recently posted at Sporting Lisbon and could be in line to link up with coach Amorim in England.
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What about Man City's 115 charges?
Arguably the greatest club manager of all time, Guardiola and his final years at Man City are being overshadowed by issues for the club off the pitch.
The English champions are still waiting the verdict on a hearing regarding an alleged 115 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.
It is believed that Man City being found guilty and punished would make Guardiola more likely to stay at the club past the current season.
The Spaniard would supposedly wish to show his loyalty to the club that he has fallen in love with over the good part of a decade in England.
