Report: Man City set deadline for Pep Guardiola contract decision
- Guardiola in final year of Man City contract
- Manager has long confessed his tenure with the club is nearing its end
- Hugo Viana to replace Txiki Begiristain as director of football
By Tom Gott
Manchester City want an answer on Pep Guardiola's future with the team before the end of the calendar year, a report has revealed.
Guardiola, who has entered the final 12 months of his contract with City, has made no secret of the fact that he is approaching the end of his tenure with the club.
With long-standing director of football Txiki Begiristain departing at the end of the season, many have assumed Guardiola could also choose to walk away from the Etihad Stadium to usher in a new era when Hugo Viana arrives to replace Begiristain.
City have repeatedly stressed their desire to continue with Guardiola, although a previous report claimed the boss was already thinking of stepping down in 2025.
ESPN state City officials are hoping to seal a final decision from Guardiola before the end of the calendar year, giving them sufficient time to find a high-level replacement.
Among those tipped to replace Guardiola is Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim, who currently works under City's incoming director of football Viana. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes recently backed the 39-year-old to succeed in England.
The Athletic note that Amorim could be a firm favourite of Viana if a replacement for Guardiola is needed, but the pair's pre-existing relationship is by no means a guarantee they will reunite at the Etihad next season.
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