Where will Pep Guardiola go when he leaves Man City in 2023?
Guardiola is yet to try his hand in Italy or France, and should he fancy a fresh challenge the bookies believe he could be drawn to Juventus at 9/4 or Paris St Germain at 10/1.
Pep Guardiola may claim his next managerial job will be in the international game, but the bookmakers believe he could be persuaded to delay his national team ambitions when he does depart Manchester City.
Having enjoyed trophy-laden spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has picked up a host of trophies since arriving in Manchester in 2016. He has led City to three Premier League titles, and FA Cup success and four consecutive EFL Cup Final victories.
The UEFA Champions League has so far eluded him, but City got a step closer to making that European breakthrough last season when they made it to the final, only to lose to domestic rivals Chelsea.
They are leading contenders to go all the way this time around, but time is running out for Guardiola after he reportedly admitted he plans on departing the Etihad Stadium when his contract ends in 2023.
“My next step will be a national team, if there is a possibility,” he said during an appearance at XP Investimentos event. “A national team is the next step.
While it is understandable that Guardiola has all of those aims, the bookmakers believe he could be persuaded to put them on hold if one of European football’s biggest clubs comes calling at the end of his City reign.
According to the latest football tips, Barcelona are heavily tipped as the favourites to capture Guardiola with top bookmakers at 2/1. He won three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Super Cups, two Copa del Reys and three Spanish Super Cups during his previous reign, and it would be a shock if the Catalan giants did not make a play for him when he is a free agent once again.
Guardiola is yet to try his hand in Italy or France, and should he fancy a fresh challenge the bookies believe he could be drawn to Juventus at 9/4 or Paris St Germain at 10/1.
The most likely national team candidates are Spain at 6/1 and Brazil at 12/1. Coaching Brazil would give him a shot at the Copa America and a very realistic chance of adding at least one major piece of international silverware to his glittering CV before he calls time on his career.
But could Guardiola decide to remain in England beyond his time at City? The English national team have improved considerably under Gareth Southgate, reaching the World Cup Final in 2018 and Euro 2020 Final this past summer. But if Southgate does not bring World Cup glory next year could the FA make a play for Guardiola? The odds on the England national team being his next job are 25/1.
Sport
Everton are reportedly already hoping to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City permanently
Danny Jones
Everton FC are reportedly already considering signing Jack Grealish on a permanent deal after an impressive start to his spell on loan from Manchester City.
The former Aston Villa talisman has struggled to remain in the starting XI under Pep Guardiola since joining the club in 2021, but since arriving on Merseyside, he’s already been a difference-maker in every match for the Toffees thus far.
Grealish has not only registered four assists in just two starts for Everton but also won the very first player of the month award in the Premier League this season for his contributions.
Safe to say he’s fast made a big impact over in Liverpool – hence why it is now thought that manager David Moyes wants to make his transfer permanent.
Becoming just the 10th Toffee to ever win the accolade, the Birmingham-born creator is now thought to be the primary transfer target, despite the summer window having only recently closed.
He writes that despite the deal between Everton and Man City already including a £50 million option to buy next summer, that number is “not fixed and is more a consequence of accounting than a set price.”
The England international still has two years on his contract in the blue half of Manchester, but the previous valuation (which is half the amount City paid for him in a then record fee for a British player), so it is believed that he could be signed for an even better cut-price offer as his deal runs down.
Put it this way, it looks like the supporters would do just about anything to keep him at the Hill Dickinson.
Jack Grealish giving his shirt to an Everton fan after their brilliant win away at Wolves today.
Bascombe goes on to explain, however, that his salary considerations could be a significant obstacle. Grealish is estimated to be earning approximately £12m a year, which is almost certainly too rich for Everton’s blood.
Taking that into account, it’d be a case of whether or not the Brummy forward would be willing to accept a much lower wage to depart the Etihad Stadium for Everton long-term; alternatively, waiting for him to become a free agent in a few transfer windows’ time would also be an option.
What about you, Blues: would you like to see Jack Grealish stay and fight for his place under Guardiola, or would you understand/support him making his Everton permanent?
Interestingly, there could be yet more shuffling of the pack in the middle of the park for Pep, as a forgotten man is apparently going to be given another chance to revive his City career…
Kalvin Phillips is reportedly set to be reintegrated into the Manchester City squad
Danny Jones
Long-exiled Manchester City player Kalvin Phillips is reportedly on the verge of being reintegrated into Pep Guardiola’s squad this season.
The ex-Leeds United star, who signed for the Blues back in 2022, has still only made just 16 appearances for the club, but could now be eyeing up a potential renaissance.
Man City have made plenty of signings this year, but with a number of outgoings and several injuries in key positions, it looks like there could be an avenue for the one-time England international to fight his way back into the team.
As per Telegraph Sport‘s Mike McGrath, Kalvin Phillips is set to be reintroduced to City’s 25-man Premier League selection; the question is, can he make it into a first-team XI?
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Kalvin Phillips has chance to resurrect career at the Etihad Stadium after failed loan spells with Ipswich and West Ham
According to McGrath, Phillips will be “given a chance to resurrect his career at the Etihad Stadium” with the meat and potatoes of the 2025/26 campaign still yet to get properly underway.
Now 29, the Yorkshireman is well and truly within the crucial ‘prime’ years as an athlete, and after such an extended period on the sidelines, he’ll be more motivated than anyone to get his career back on track.
The central defensive midfielder – who was formerly considered a key cog in the middle of the park for Leeds – has spent two loan spells away from the Etihad, but neither really worked out for the undeniably talented footballer.
Having joined West Ham for the latter portion of the 23/24 term and spending the last 12 months on loan at struggling Ipswich Town, his time at both clubs was pretty forgettable, punctuated by little more than a couple of unfortunate red cards and more time on the bench.
Speaking to Sky Sports fairly recently, he confessed that the last couple of years have been very difficult and was visibly emotional discussing his struggles since moving to Man City.
It’s also worth noting that Guardiola himself has admitted to feeling “so bad” for Kalvin Phillips’ situation – perhaps why he now looks like he could be given a second chance.
CDM-wise, Rodri and Nico González are considered the go-to options, but Stockport-born Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovačić have also been used in the role.
Once again, although Man City face somewhat of an injury crisis ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend, any prolonged absences could at least see an opportunity arise for the forgotten man.
What do you make of Kalvin Phillips’ chances of being restored to the Manchester City squad and maybe even putting himself back into national team contention ahead of the World Cup?
The Manc -
31st August 2021 
