Pep Guardiola is poised to extend his tenure as manager of Manchester City by signing a one-year contract extension, The Athletic reported on Tuesday.
Since joining the Etihad in 2016, Guardiola has guided City to six Premier League titles and their first-ever Champions League triumph.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager’s current contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
Speculation had arisen over whether Guardiola’s time at City might be nearing its conclusion, particularly with the club facing uncertainty due to an ongoing inquiry into 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations.
City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, a close confidant of Guardiola, has announced that he will step down at the end of the season.
According to The Athletic, Guardiola, aged 53, will sign a one-year extension with the option of a further year. Notably, his two previous contract renewals at City were also concluded during the November international break.
The reigning English champions are set to return to action on Saturday as they attempt to halt an unprecedented losing streak under Guardiola.
For the first time in his managerial career, Guardiola has suffered four consecutive defeats.
City’s recent struggles have been compounded by the season-ending knee injury to Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. As a result, they now sit five points adrift of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table, following defeats to Bournemouth and Brighton.
The team also endured a 4-1 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League and were eliminated from the League Cup by Tottenham.
Securing the commitment of one of football’s most decorated managers would provide a significant morale boost for City’s players and supporters.
During his eight full seasons in Manchester, Guardiola has amassed 15 major trophies, including two FA Cups, four League Cups, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.