Bundesliga side 'preparing' for manager to leave for Manchester City in the summer

Over the past few weeks, rumours have run amok that Man City boss Guardiola will leave the club at the end of the season. The Spaniard is out of contract in 2025 and has been coy about his future.

Last weekend, before the Premier League champions played Wolves, Guardiola even suggested he would help to choose his successor, should City’s executives ask him to. Now, while publications speculate over who could replace the 53-year-old, one club is preparing for their manager to be selected.

Sky Germany has reported that Bungesliga club Bayer Leverkusen is making arrangements, just in case their manager Xabi Alonso gets headhunted.

Posting on X, Florian Pettenberg said: “Bayer Leverkusen are preparing for Xabi Alonso’s departure next summer. Alonso is a candidate at Real Madrid and Manchester City, with Man City showing concrete interest and preparing for the possibility that Pep Guardiola leaves next summer, as per the Athletic.

“Liverpool FC [are] out of the race at this point, as they are very happy with Arne Slot.

“The contract of the 42-year-old runs until 2026. However, Leverkusen are already looking for a successor, with Sebastian Hoeneß and Sandro Wagner being considered.”

Premier League rivals to duke it out for Barcelona star

Manchester United and Chelsea look set to battle it out for the services of one of Barcelona’s most versatile defenders. Uruguayan international Ronald Araujo has not played a single minute of football this season due to injury, but when he’s on the pitch he can play almost anywhere along the back line.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has publicly voiced his plans to keep the 25-year-old at the Nou Camp, with talks over a new deal reported to be taking place soon. However, if these talks take too long, Araujo will be free to speak with other clubs.

According to Caught Offside, Man United and Chelsea are the clubs best poised to try and sign the defender, who is out-of-contract in 2026. The Red Devils are looking to get someone solid to partner Matthijs de Ligt, especially with Harry Maguire set to leave in the summer. Meanwhile, Chelsea lost veteran centre-back Thiago Silva at the end of last season, and are yet to properly replace him.