Manchester City are eyeing moves for Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann as uncertainty grows regarding the long-term future of Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad and he is yet to inform the club if he wishes to extend his stay beyond the summer, this season having already seen the Spaniard begin an unprecedented fifth campaign with a single club.
The City hierarchy are keen for the club’s most successful ever manager to continue next season but, according to the Daily Mail, are drawing up potential succession plans with their two-man shortlist composed of Pochettino and Nagelsmann.
The former retains a strong reputation despite his sacking at Tottenham last year, Pochettino having won plenty of plaudits for his five-and-a-half year spell in north London, establishing the club as challengers for silverware and reaching a maiden Champions League final on a comparatively modest budget to his competitors.
Handed greater resources there are plenty who think the Argentine could thrive at the highest level, whilst the intensity of his attacking playing style is also likely to appeal.
Joining Pochettino on City’s shortlist is RB Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann, who has emerged as one of Europe’s most impressive and innovative young coaches in recent seasons.
Nagelsmann became the youngest manager in Bundesliga history at Hoffenheim and guided the club into the Champions League for the first time in their history, before seeing his reputation enhanced further after moving to divisional rivals Leipzig, the 33-year-old leading a youthful side into the last four of the Champions League last season.
Both coaches are well-regarded by City and realistically attainable should there be managerial change, and the club will be seeking an answer from Guardiola on his own future imminently as they bid for a smooth transition in the event he walks away.
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