Manchester City “will be looking” at Premier League boss as Pep Guardiola replacement

Pep Guardiola’s replacement at Manchester City could be a name close to home in terms of a figure competed against in the Premier League, Michael Owen has stated.

The Catalan coach has produced the finest period in Manchester City’s history since joining the club after a similarly successful spell with Bayern Munich, capped off by the most monumental single campaign in any English club’s history.

City’s 2022/23 season and the entirety of the 2023 calendar year in particular amassed a total of five trophies across the English, European, and global game, featuring a third successive Premier League crown and a maiden UEFA Champions League honour.

But some are asking what is left for Pep Guardiola and his players to achieve, and whether the latest round of historic successes could spark the beginning of the end for the Catalan icon, with his current Etihad deal expiring at the end of the 2024/25 season.

According to one name in the game, Roberto De Zerbi – a manager that is held in very high regard by Pep Guardiola himself – could emerge as a successor to the current Etihad Stadium managerial position.

Speaking to the Premier League this week, Michael Owen as admitted his belief that Manchester City could be among the clubs willing to make a move on Brighton & Hove Albion’s coach when the time comes for Pep Guardiola to depart the Etihad Stadium.

“If a big club loses their manager, if they part ways, someone like Pep Guardiola, I’m sure that people will be looking at him in terms of their next one,” Owen explained.

“Brighton, in general terms, they don’t miss do they with their signings, they don’t miss with their managers in many ways, their last couple of managers have been exceptional as well.

“So I just think that they do so much homework, so much work in general in terms of recruitment, and you know what, they’ll have the next man in place as well.”

Pep Guardiola has faced Roberto De Zerbi on three occasions in his managerial career, defeating the Italian boss in two meetings and being held to a draw once, most recently coming out on top 2-1 in a Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium.