Manchester City consider former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca an ideal replacement for Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola’s future has been a major talking point throughout the season, and following the heavy defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League, the Spanish tactician’s departure now looks increasingly likely. The former Bayern Munich boss could choose to bring his stint at Manchester City to an end at the conclusion of the season.

City have already started planning for life without Guardiola, as they expect him to leave the club this summer. According to a report from Fichajes, the board have identified Enzo Maresca as an ideal successor to the Spanish mastermind.

Guardiola took charge of City in the summer of 2016, and he has completely transformed the club in the last decade. Under him, the Manchester-based giants have dominated the Premier League, winning six league titles. He has even led them to their first-ever Champions League title.

While he has done wonders for them, the last 20-odd months haven’t gone according to plan for him. The City job seems to have taken a toll on the 55-year-old, who could now choose to walk away from the club this summer.

Following their defeat to Real Madrid, Guardiola even hinted towards a potential retirement. While City did manage to convince him to sign a new two-year deal last summer, people at the club feel the Spanish manager will bring an end to his time after the end of the season.

Maresca to take Guardiola’s place on City’s bench

As a result, they have been working hard to ensure they have an ideal replacement lined up. While they have had a look at quite a few potential candidates, the Manchester-based giants consider Enzo Maresca the perfect fit for the club and their project.

The Italian has been without a job since getting sacked by Chelsea at the start of the year. Given what he did at the London club, City are confident about him being the right man. More importantly, he worked at the club as an assistant to Guardiola and knows how things work behind the scenes.

Everything suggests he will be able to build on the base that Guardiola has laid down during his decade-long stint. The Spaniard has endorsed the 46-year-old to take on this enormous responsibility, and City are now ready to appoint him as their next boss. They have started planning for the summer with him in mind.