Enzo Maresca to sign three-year deal as Manchester City manager, confirms Fabrizio Romano | OneFootball

Manchester City will welcome Enzo Maresca as head coach on an initial three year deal to replace Pep Guardiola this summer, as reported by Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian was relieved of his duties as Chelsea manager on New Year’s Day following conversations with the Manchester City hierarchy over taking over from Guardiola – if and when the Catalan would call it a day at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola is under contract at City till 2027 but is widely expected to leave Manchester City after Sunday’s Premier League finale at home against Aston Villa, with the Blues still in the title race amid slender hopes of winning a domestic treble.

Romano: Maresca set to sign three year Man City contract

There has been great noise surrounding Guardiola’s club future in recent months amid a growing belief in football that the Catalan would decide against seeing out the final year of his contract.

While Guardiola has maintained publicly – till his pre-Bournemouth press conference – that he has another year on his contract, a flurry of reports in the English press late on Monday night have relayed that the Manchester City manager will depart ahead of the summer.

As City prepare to take on Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday night, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Enzo Maresca will replace Guardiola as Manchester City manager on an initial three year deal, with a verbal agreement in place between the Italian and the City hierarchy.

When will Man City announce Pep’s departure?

It is not exactly known when Manchester City could make it public that Guardiola is leaving the club, with the Blues still fighting for the Premier League title ahead of monumental fixtures against Bournemouth and Aston Villa.

An official confirmation could come before Sunday’s home fixture against Aston Villa to rally the fanbase and create an atmosphere worthy of giving the right send-off to Manchester City’s greatest-ever manager, who has won 20 titles during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola and co need three points on the south coast to stay in the title race but with ample time between Bournemouth and Villa, City bosses could decide to break the news early as they also plan an open-bus parade on Monday to celebrate the achievements of the men’s, women’s and academy teams this season.