Premier League managers have Pep Guardiola ‘theory’ amid Arsenal title battle

Pep Guardiola is under contract at Manchester City until 2027 and his side are locked in a battle to win the Premier League title with Arsenal

Premier League managers believe this season will be the last for Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, according to reports. It has been suggested that figureheads in the top-flight suspect the Catalan tactician will depart, as he remains locked in a title race with Arsenal.

The Gunners can move further clear ahead at the top of the league with a win at Leeds United, which can extend their advantage to seven points before City travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. It is a three-horse race, with reigning champions Liverpool already surrendering their crown as they sit in sixth, 14 points off the Gunners, while Aston Villa are third due to their inferior goal difference to City.

According to The Times, managers within the top-flight have growing suspicions that Guardiola will make this campaign his last, despite his current contract running until 2027.

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Guardiola appeared close to leaving in 2024 but penned a new two-year deal to keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2027; his extension came months after former rival Jurgen Klopp stepped down from Liverpool after nine-and-a-half years.

One Premier League manager is said to have told club executives last week that the 55-year-old will step down from his post in Manchester at the end of the season.

It comes amid mounting speculation that former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca had been courted as a potential successor to Guardiola.

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The Italian held talks with figures at the Etihad Stadium, with Maresca confirming that he held talks with City, where he was previously an academy coach, on three occasions earlier this season about replacing Guardiola.

The 55-year-old has remained firm on the speculation over his future already this season. He previously expressed his happiness at the club; he said: “I’m happy here, I want to stay here. What can I say? Always results decide.

“When it is the [end of the] chapter, the club will choose the best one to continue this incredible period in Man City.

“There have been rumours in the last years many, many times, but I want to stay here. At the end of the season, we’ll see.”

City have spent big this month, winning the race to sign Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo in a bid to boost their title credentials, as well as heed their injury problems.

Liverpool beat Arsenal to the post last season after City’s stranglehold of England’s top-flight came to an end after an underwhelming campaign.

Guardiola has already reiterated that he is relishing the challenge in the Premier League this season. He said: “I’m excited because there is a margin to improve, to do it better. That is what I like.

“Last season was a really, really tough season and I didn’t give up and I was there. This season is much better in terms of many things I’m seeing and still I’m here.

“It depends on my feelings and my feeling right now is good. That’s why I want to continue.

“It’s going to change? Maybe, I don’t know. But what I’m feeling now is not [that]. What I’m feeling now is with the players I want to continue as much and as long as possible.”