Premier League managers hold Pep Guardiola future belief – Manchester City manager ‘burning topic of conversation’ | OneFootball

The future of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is now a ‘burning topic of conversation’ among fellow coaches within the Premier League, it is reported.

While Guardiola remains fully focused on the ongoing campaign, there has been growing external scrutiny surrounding how long the Catalan coach intends to continue at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite having a contract that runs until the summer of 2027, Pep Guardiola’s long-term commitment has increasingly become a subject of debate across English football, amid claims that talks have been held with the former Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca.

Manchester City are believed to have already begun informal succession planning behind the scenes, with senior figures keen to avoid uncertainty should Guardiola eventually decide to step away.

City’s approach mirrors past strategic planning, where continuity and foresight have been prioritised during periods of transition at executive and coaching level. And that backdrop has been reinforced by recent speculation linking Xabi Alonso as a potential successor.

Those reports have only added to the sense that Pep Guardiola’s tenure may be entering its final phase, particularly amid a season in which Manchester City have been forced into a battle to stay within some distance of Arsenal at the summit of the league table.

According to the information of The Times’ Martyn Ziegler, there is a growing conviction among Premier League managers that this will be Guardiola’s final season at Manchester City – despite his contract running until the summer of 2027.

It is further revealed that Guardiola’s future is a burning topic of conversation among many managers and coaches, with one at a leading club having told his executives last week that he is sure the 55-year-old will leave at the end of this season.

Should those beliefs prove accurate, City would face one of the most significant moments in the club’s modern history, with Guardiola having been the defining figure of an era of dominance, and any departure would inevitably trigger major decisions.

Manchester City, however, are not expected to be caught unprepared, and internal discussions around long-term leadership will already be underway, while any decision from Guardiola himself would likely be communicated early to allow a controlled transition.

For now, Pep Guardiola’s stance remains unchanged publicly, with the manager continuing to deflect questions about his future when pressed during media duties with national media. But with rival managers reportedly convinced that the end of his reign is approaching, speculation is unlikely to fade.