Manchester City's two-season Champions League ban could be about to reverberate through the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola's future had been a topic of discussion prior to UEFA handing down sanctions for "serious" Financial Fair Play breaches and the loss of European competition has fuelled suggestions the Catalan could quit the club.
Media reports indicate City already have alternatives in mind, and their search for a successor looks set to pose problems for Premier League rivals.
TOP STORY – CITY EYE PEP REPLACEMENTS
Mauricio Pochettino and Brendan Rodgers are among the contenders to take over at City if Guardiola walks, according to The Telegraph.
The report states the pair "would be in the running" to become the club's next manager in the event their current boss decides to leave at the end of the season.
Ex-Tottenham manager Pochettino recently admitted he would "love" to return to the Premier League, telling the 'In The Pink' podcast: "It's going to be difficult, I know, and for now it's a moment to wait and we'll see what happens."
The Argentinian has been heavily linked to City's cross-town rivals Manchester United, while Rodgers is tied to Leicester City until 2025.
Exclusive: Mauricio Pochettino and Brendan Rodgers in the running to take over at Manchester City if Pep Guardiola quits | @TelegraphDucker@mcgrathmike@Tom_Morgs https://t.co/GBoummm6sv
— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) February 15, 2020
ROUND-UP
- Juventus-linked Guardiola might not be the only big name headed for the Etihad Stadium exit. The Sun claims Real Madrid will launch an "all-out assault" in a bid to sign Raheem Sterling.
- City could potentially even be docked Premier League points for the same Financial Fair Play breaches that compelled UEFA to act, says The Guardian.
- Meanwhile, over at Old Trafford, United have set their asking price for Paul Pogba at £130million, reports the Daily Star.
- As for potential arrivals, United are interested in Norwich City pair Todd Cantwell and Max Aarons plus West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, states the Daily Mail.
- Serie A side Milan are no closer to extending Gianluigi Donnarumma's deal beyond June 2021, according to Tuttomercato, and LaLiga title contenders Madrid are monitoring the situation.
- Sky Sport Germany continues to link former Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac to manager-less Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin, who saw Jurgen Klinsmann leave earlier in the week.
