Preparing for Pep Guardiola's exit? Man City consider Man Utd target Ruben Amorim as new manager as part of Sporting Lisbon-flavoured shakeup

Guardiola, who has been at the helm of Manchester City since 2016, has been instrumental in delivering unprecedented success to the club including a historic Treble in the 2022-23 season. But the manager's future remains uncertain and the man himself has stated that "anything can happen", leaving the door open to both extending his stay or moving on.

According to The Guardian, the club’s hierarchy is already working behind the scenes to recruit a worthy successor and have set their sights on Amorim, who has already been on the radar of top European clubs including Manchester United and Liverpool. A significant factor in City’s interest in Amorim is his close relationship with Hugo Viana at Sporting, who is set to join the club as director of football after taking over the reins from Txiki Begiristain. With Viana overseeing recruitment Amorim would be a logical choice for the managerial role, should Guardiola decide to step down.

Guardiola’s future could be complicated by the looming shadow of financial sanctions. City are currently facing 115 alleged breaches related to financial misconduct, and there is a possibility of severe punishments, including expulsion from the Premier League. The uncertainty surrounding these charges adds another layer of complexity to Guardiola’s decision on whether to extend his contract or move on at the end of the 2024-25 season.

However, if Guardiola leaves City, he will not take the England job, with Thomas Tuchel the FA's pick to step into the hot-seat.

Amorim's managerial career has been defined by his tactical acumen and ability to develop young talent. His success at Sporting Lisbon, where he has secured two Portuguese league titles, makes him a favoured candidate for the post. A new era could possibly be on the horizon if Amorim indeed goes on to succeed Guardiola.