Manchester City are heading toward a major reset. Pep Guardiola, the manager who has defined their modern era, is expected to move on when the season ends, with club insiders now treating that outcome as the most likely one. He has been careful in public, but behind the scenes there is a growing sense that the decision is already made.

Guardiola’s current deal runs to 2027, yet it includes a break clause that gives him an exit at the end of this campaign. That option appears to be the one he plans to use. City have not said so officially, and they are unlikely to do anything before the season is over because the Premier League title is still on the line.

If he does leave, the club already has a likely successor in mind. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who previously worked under Guardiola at City, is viewed as the leading candidate to take over.

Why the Talk Has Grown So Loud

The signs have been building for some time. When asked on Monday, people close to the club gave the familiar answer that “nothing has changed”, which has only added to the belief that Guardiola is preparing to step away. Staff members and players are now said to be treating a summer departure as the expected outcome rather than a rumour.

City’s silence is intentional. With the title race still alive, the club wants no outside noise. Any formal statement is more likely to come after the final match, and possibly after the planned celebrations, than during this tense stretch.

• Current contract: Runs until 2027
• Exit route: Break clause at season’s end
• Expected move: Leave after 10 years in Manchester
• Age: 55

The Succession Plan Already Exists

Maresca has emerged as the front-runner because he fits what City usually want: continuity, control, and a style that does not force a complete rebuild. His time at the club as part of Guardiola’s coaching set-up gave him a close look at how the system works from the inside.

There are several reasons his name has risen quickly:

• He already knows the club environment and many of the key people around it
• His tactical approach mirrors several of Guardiola’s core ideas
• He is available after leaving Chelsea earlier this year
• He has already been spoken to, which suggests the process is real and active

Other candidates may be discussed later, but Maresca is the one most clearly linked to the role so far.

One More Match, One More Title Race

All of this is happening while City still have work to do on the pitch. Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday turned up the pressure, and City now need to beat Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium to keep the championship battle alive until the final day.

The situation is simple:

• If City win: The title goes to the last match against Aston Villa
• If City fail to win: Arsenal take the Premier League crown for the first time since 2004

That is one reason the club wants the Guardiola discussion kept quiet for now. A confirmed exit would dominate every headline just when City are trying to stay locked in on the title race.

A Legacy That Is Already Secure

Whatever happens next, Guardiola’s record in Manchester already stands among the most impressive in English football. His 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final gave him his 20th trophy as City manager, a number no other coach has reached at one English club in the modern game.

The club is also preparing to mark that era properly. A celebration is planned for the day after the final league match against Aston Villa, when City will parade both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, won against Arsenal in March. There is also an expectation that a stand at the Etihad Stadium will be renamed in Guardiola’s honour.

That kind of tribute usually says as much as any official statement. City are acting like a club that knows this chapter is nearing its end.

What Comes After the Final Whistle

The likely sequence is becoming clearer: Guardiola closes the season, City complete their celebrations, and the club then confirms what many already believe. After that, a formal move for Maresca would be expected once the practical details are settled.

For now, the focus remains on Bournemouth. Guardiola has one more chance to keep the title chase alive, and possibly one final shot at leaving on top.