EPL: Guardiola remains tight-lipped on contract talks

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, is remaining calm over extending his contract with the Premier League club.

The former Bayern Munich’s boss deal expires in the summer.

Guardiola is in his seventh season at the club, but has yet to finalise a deal on extending his current deal.

He said: “I’ve said many times, I don’t talk about that. Everything is under control, it’s perfect, the decision will be made together with the club the moment it has to be made.

“I said many times, I had the feeling that both the club and myself are happy to be together. It’s not the moment, tomorrow against Brentford is the only important thing right now. When we have time, when the moment we feel it both sides, we take a decision.”

City remain hopeful

Manchester City are hoping Pep Guardiola will agree to a new contract before the year is up.

The Spaniard’s contract expires at the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, but talks about an extension have been going on for a while. Since taking over in 2016, he and City have won four Premier League titles.

According to sources who spoke to 90min, Guardiola and his representatives have already reached a “broad agreement” regarding a new contract that would bind him to the team until 2025. City, who are remaining composed in the face of the situation, would prefer for Guardiola to sign the contract before the end of the year.

Guardiola may decide not to commit; it’s well-known that he wants to go back to America at some point after taking a year off in New York in 2013. However, City are ‘very convinced’ that Guardiola will decide to stay at the team so he can work with and develop Erling Haaland.

The 51-year-old has been assured by City Group that he will have a role at New York City FC should he desire one, and the club’s administration has proposed a succession plan in case Guardiola decides to leave once his current contract expires.

Potential replacements

Mikel Arteta is one name that has been brought up, according to reports, who has helped lead Arsenal to the top of the Premier League standings and is now considered a serious candidate for the position.

After serving as Guardiola’s assistant for three years, Arteta is well known to City. His astonishing improvement at the Emirates Stadium, which has led to recent rumors linking him to the top position at Barcelona, has not gone unnoticed.

Two other candidates are said to be on City’s radar: Marcelo Gallardo of River Plate and Julian Nagelsmann of Bayern Munich. However, the Premier League champions ultimately hope that Guardiola will stay and that any succession plan won’t need to be implemented for a few more years.