Fabrizio Romano names ‘clear leading candidate’ to replace Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager | OneFootball

Manchester City have placed one name at the forefront of their list of potential Pep Guardiola replacements, should the Catalan leave the club in the coming summer.

Speculation surrounding the future of Guardiola has intensified in recent weeks, with growing belief across the game that the current campaign could mark the final chapter of his historic reign at Manchester City.

While the 55-year-old remains under contract beyond this season and until the end of the 2026/27 campaign, the sense of an impending transition has prompted contingency planning behind the scenes.

Pep Guardiola has continued to deliver an element of mixed messages when addressing long-term plans, at times forcefully reaffirming his commitment to Manchester City while also acknowledging the mental toll of a decade-long spell at the summit of English football.

With the manager having previously spoken about taking time away from the dugout when his time to depart the Etihad Stadium comes around, senior figures at the club are now believed to be preparing for all eventualities.

And according to the information of football insider Fabrizio Romano, former Chelsea and Leicester boss Enzo Maresca remains the ‘clear leading candidate’ to become the next Manchester City head coach – when and if Guardiola decides to leave the Etihad Stadium.

That stance reflects Maresca’s deep-rooted ties to the Etihad Stadium and his understanding of Pep Guardiola’s tactical framework, developed during his time working within Manchester City’s academy structure and first-team environment.

The Italian is widely viewed as a natural continuity option who could preserve principles that have underpinned the club’s domestic and European success, and following his departure from Chelsea, Maresca is biding his time amid interest elsewhere and a brief link to Tottenham.

While Manchester City are reportedly admiring alternative profiles such as Xabi Alonso and Cesc Fàbregas, Maresca’s familiarity with the club’s culture and methodology is likely to give him a decisive edge at this stage.

For now, though, there is no official vacancy to fill at Manchester City, but with Pep Guardiola’s future somewhat unresolved, the groundwork for an era beyond the legendary Catalan appears firmly in motion.