Man City 'are already preparing for life after Pep Guardiola'

Manchester City are reportedly already preparing for a post-Pep Guardiola world.

The club are working on a succession plan for their manager, whose contract expires in the summer of 2025.

Guardiola hinted he could extend his deal at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season and the club would love to keep him on.

However, he will have managed City for nine seasons by the end of his contract - longer than his tenures at Barcelona and Bayern Munich put together - and City acknowledge that he will not be around forever.

They see Girona's Michel Sanchez as a potential successor, according to Relevo.

Girona are third in LaLiga despite this being just their fourth top-flight season in history.

Michel has received widespread praise for leading what would appear a fairly average group of players to the cusp of Champions League qualification.

Paulo Gazzaniga and Cristhian Stuani stand among their ranks while they have also picked up a 34-year-old Daley Blind. Eric Garcia is on loan from Barcelona.

Girona's growth has been accelerated by the fact that they are part of the City Football Group - the organisation which runs 13 clubs including Manchester City - but the speed and style of change has been unexpected. Another top-half finish would have been a good achievement this season.

Relevo reports that Michel has earned the trust and respect of City Football Group's head honchos and that he is learning English to prime himself for a potential move.

City could be set for big changes after the 2024/25 season, with the feeling reportedly growing that Txiki Begiristain, the club's director of football, could also leave after that campaign.

Whoever succeeds Guardiola will have an entire room of boots to fill.

City are chasing down their sixth