Man City boss Pep Guardiola insists Burnley's relegation 'doesn't matter' as he backs Vincent Kompany to succeed ahead of shock Bayern Munich appointment

In a surprising turn of events, the current Burnley manager finds himself as the frontrunner to take over the managerial reins at Bayern Munich despite a disastrous season at Turf Moor. However, Guardiola, who managed Bayern Munich from 2013 to 2016 and won three consecutive Bundesliga titles with the club, has given a ringing endorsement to his former player.

Speaking about Kompany's possible appointment, Guardiola told reporters: "I’m happy with that link, if this happens, that Bayern are linked to Vinny. I have a huge opinion about Vinny, it doesn’t matter if he was relegated with Burnley.

“What I felt when I played against him, and I know him a little bit, I have a high standard opinion about his work, as a person, because of his personality, knowledge about the game and how he handles the media, and many things. I would love Bayern to make the best decision, they deserve it, I love that club, and I’m in love with Bayern Munich for many, many reasons, especially the people that are still there – and hopefully, they can make the best decision. If they believe that Vinny is the right decision, from Manchester City, they have a guy that we will support unconditionally.”

Guardiola’s endorsement of Kompany also touched on the possibility of the latter one day managing Manchester City. “For sure. You will call me when this is going to happen,” Guardiola remarked when asked if he still sees it as Kompany’s destiny to take over at City.

Bayern's search for a new manager has been a prolonged saga, with several high-profile candidates such as Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, and Ralf Rangnick reportedly declining the position. Kompany has emerged as a viable option, despite being a relatively unexpected candidate. The Bavarian club is reportedly prepared to offer him a three-year deal, although negotiations over the compensation package with Burnley are still ongoing. Reports indicate that Burnley are seeking £17 million ($22m) for Kompany, but Bayern are only willing to pay half of that amount. However, it is believed that a compromise of approximately £13 million ($16m) might suffice to finalise the deal.

If the agreement goes through, it would mark a significant career leap for Kompany, transitioning from managing a team relegated to the Championship to one of the most prestigious clubs in world football. His appointment would also end a difficult period for Bayern, who have struggled to find a suitable successor to Thomas Tuchel.