Revealed: Enzo Maresca’s stance on Manchester City job uncertainty as Pep Guardiola decides future | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca is waiting in the wings to take over as Manchester City manager if Pep Guardiola leaves the club this summer, as per a new report.

Maresca has been widely reported to be City’s preferred candidate to take over the baton from Guardiola, who is entering the final 12 months of his current deal at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola has maintained in press conferences that “he has a contract” when probed on his plans for next season, though there is a growing belief in Premier League circles that the Catalan could bring the curtain down on his Manchester City career this summer.

With Bernardo Silva and John Stones, two of Guardiola’s longest-serving City players, heading for the exit door, it is believed that the 55-year-old could also decide to leave a year before his current contract ends.

Report: Maresca ‘ready’ and ‘waiting’ for Man City job

As reported by Mark Douglas and Pete Hall writing for iNews, Maresca is waiting in the wings to take over as Manchester City manager should Guardiola call it a day at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

Maresca has his heart set on the Manchester City job – if and when Guardiola leaves – to the extent that the 46-year-old has reportedly been ruled out as a possible candidate by other clubs searching for managers this summer.

The Italian was relieved of his duties as Chelsea head coach on New Year’s Day, having informed Stamford Bridge bosses of preliminary discussions with Manchester City over replacing Guardiola in the north-west.

Maresca features at the very top of Manchester City’s shortlist of candidates to succeed Guardiola, a list that also includes Xabi Alonso, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany and Como’s Cesc Fabregas.

What is the latest on Guardiola’s Man City future?

Guardiola is understood to have taken some time off after the Carabao Cup final in March to mull over his future as Manchester City contest for a domestic treble.

Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak are leading the Etihad club’s hunt for a potent successor to Guardiola, the club’s greatest-ever manager who is approaching the end of an illustrious decade in England.

City lost ground in the Premier League title race after a thrilling 3-3 draw against Everton on Monday night and will need for Arsenal to slip up in their remaining three league games to stand a chance of returning to the summit.

The Blues will also face Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 16 and City will quickly need to move on from their disappointing night at the Hill Dickinson Stadium when Brentford visit the Etihad Stadium this weekend.