Leicester City head coach Brendan Rodgers has been identified by the Manchester City hierarchy as the ideal candidate to succeed manager Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
The City chiefs are reportedly preparing for life after the Spanish boss whose contract runs until the summer of 20121. But Guardiola has insisted he has no intention of leaving Man City anytime soon. The former Barcelona coach added that he would see out the remainder of his contract at the Etihad stadium.
However, if Guardiola decides to leave City, the club has lined up the Leicester manager as his replacement. According to the Sun, Rodgers has made a big impression on City chiefs by leading the Foxes to a second-place position on the Premier League table. Also, Leicester are seven points above Guardiola’s side.
Also, another reason City chiefs want him at the Etihad is that Rodgers has assembled a young, hungry group of players that are playing an exciting brand of attacking football under his tutelage. His footballing ethics, offensive style with valuable experience in title races and the Champions League make him an ideal replacement for Guardiola.
Rodgers was reportedly approached for the vacant Arsenal job following the sacking of Unai Emery, but the Foxes manager turned down the opportunity and instead and signed a new contract worth £40million until 2025.
Also, Mikel Arteta, who is being considered for the Arsenal job, and former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino are in line to take over from Guardiola. The Spanish boss has been a revolutionary coach during his time at City, winning back-to-back league titles and cleaning up in the English domestic cup competitions.
The ex-Bayern Munich man has been credited with forming one of the greatest teams that the Premier League has ever seen, but his players have failed to live up to the high expectations this season.
The Citizens sit 17 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, and their title ambitions appear to be hanging by a thread. Guardiola’s side face Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
