Manchester City are set to see a big change take place behind the scenes in the summer.
Earlier this month, David Ornstein reported that Txiki Begiristain will be leaving City after 13 years as the club’s sporting director at the Etihad Stadium.
It was then reported that City had agreed a deal for Hugo Viana to replace Begiristain, which was then officially announced on the club’s website.
Another key figure who could be leaving City at the same time is Pep Guardiola, whose contract is set to expire in June.
Having spent eight years at the Manchester club, the Catalan has seen his side win a plethora of trophies and break a multitude of records in the process.
Having recently been mentioned with another big job in management recently, one pundit has made a claim about what could be about to transpire concerning the 53-year-old.
Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Andy Townsend shares Pep Guardiola prediction amid England speculation
It was recently reported by The Times that the FA had made an informal approach to Guardiola about potentially becoming the next permanent England manager.
This then led to Andy Townsend saying this on talkSPORT (15/10 8:10 AM) about the situation surrounding the City boss and his future.
He said: “If the opportunity is serious to get Pep Guardiola then I think you have to move heaven and earth to make that happen.
“I would have thought over the next 48 hours Pep is going to sit down and have a press conference for the City game and that question is going to be fired in.
“It’s going to be very interesting to see how he answers and phrases that question when it’s put to him about the seriousness of this potential approach from the English FA.
“But if you get the chance to get him in, you’ve got to make it happen.
“He’s the best coach we’ve ever seen here, honestly. I played football for many years, I’ve watched it for even more like many people listening. We’ve never seen a brand or a type of football like some of the stuff that that guy has actually managed to produce and get out there.
“Albeit within staggering resources, yes. [With] the best players, it does help, but you’ve still got to produce. Some of the football his teams have played has been astonishing.”
Appearing in a recent Italian TV show, Guardiola said this about his future at City and the England job.
He said: “It’s not true [becoming the next England boss], I can promise you that had I made a decision on whether to stay or to leave [Manchester City], I would tell you. I don’t even know. But anything can happen in life.”
Looking back to domestic matters, City’s next game will see them take on Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday.
Therefore, it’s easy to see why Townsend thinks Guardiola will likely have questions put to him about his future at the England position in his upcoming press conference.
If the Catalan wants to avoid the spotlight being on him about his future, the best thing he can do is come to a decision and make it public so the speculation can be put to bed and the focus can get back on City’s season.
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