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Pep Guardiola Has A Clause In His Contract And Could Leave Manchester City Next Year

Pep Guardiola Has A Clause In His Contract And Could Leave Manchester City Next Year

The Premier League champions are having a difficult season and that could leave to the boss deciding to leave early.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Pep Guardiola could walk away from Manchester City at the end of this season, despite his contract running till 2021, because of a break clause that exists in his deal.

The City boss signed a new deal in May last year, after the club had won the Premier League title with an incredible 100 points, to keep him at the club until the end of next season.

However, according to The Times, that new deal also included a break clause that allows Guardiola to leave the club in the summer of 2020 should 'certain conditions set by City be met.'

The report says that should Pep decide to walk away from the club in the summer then Mauricio Pochettino and Brendan Rodgers are top of their list to take over.

Most would expect that current assistant manager Mikel Arteta would also feature highly, although the Spaniard could yet move to Arsenal in the near future.

Poch recently left Spurs after being sacked but the Argentine's reputation remains in tact and he's likely to be highly coveted in the summer.

Rodgers has already featured on Arsenal's wanted list before the Leicester City boss signed a new deal but a move from City in the summer might be too much to turn down, though the club would have to spend big on the Northern Irishman.

Pochettino has also been linked to Manchester United, Juventus and Bayern Munich. Image: PA Images
Pochettino has also been linked to Manchester United, Juventus and Bayern Munich. Image: PA Images

Whilst there is currently no feeling from either side that the break clause will be triggered right now things could certainly change by the end of the season.

The reigning champions have been nowhere near their usual best at the beginning of this term and find themselves 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, and six points behind second place Leicester City.

In the past Guardiola left Barcelona when he believed that players had stopped listening to him and working to his methods and in recent weeks there's been criticism that City aren't pressing with as much intensity as previously, which may have something to do with their form.

Guardiola giving his fans a talking to during the loss in the Manchester derby. Image: PA Images
Guardiola giving his fans a talking to during the loss in the Manchester derby. Image: PA Images

City and Guardiola are both desperate to win the Champions League and whilst the club remain in the competition this season there may not be any thoughts of the manager leaving.

Should they fall any further behind Liverpool all focus will turn to Europe, elimination on the continent could change things at the Etihad dramatically.

Will Pep win the Champions League with City?

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Topics: Manchester City, Spurs, Liverpool, Football News, Leicester City, Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino, Premier League, Brendan Rodgers, Champions League