Manchester City are in the midst of another Premier League title push this year. Despite placing second behind Liverpool in the standings after the first seven matchdays, the SBOTOP Premier League 2024 odds fancy the Sky Blues’ chances to win it all again.
However, Manchester City face bigger questions about their foreseeable future, especially as the investigation of the 115 charges against them by the league is already underway, starting from the coaching staff and their front office.
Meanwhile, one of their former stars is under a financial quagmire, so he’s trying to recoup his lost income from his former employers at the Etihad.
Learn more about the latest Premier League 2024 updates, with a specific focus on the defending champions, Manchester City, by continuing to read below.
Guardiola opens up on speculations about his future
Pep Guardiola’s future at the Etihad is uncertain since his current contract will run until June 2025, and he has dodged questions on whether he will sign a new extension.
Guardiola’s situation is being monitored by rival clubs and even national teams because he is one of the best managers ever in football, so much so that he has been linked to the Three Lions job ahead of the 2026 World Cup to potentially replace interim boss Lee Carsley.
Pep Guardiola previously expressed his desire to lead a national team at a huge international tournament since he has never experienced it before. The former Barcelona manager said that although he hasn’t committed to leaving Manchester City to lead England, he will entertain the English FA’s approach.
“It’s not true, I can promise you that had I made a decision on whether to stay or to leave (City), I would tell you,” he said. “I don’t even know. But anything can happen in life.”
The clamour for Pep Guardiola to take over for England is understandable because of his resume. Following the Three Lions’ shocking loss against Greece in the UEFA Nations League, that clamour grew even bigger.
Lee Carsley even said during a recent press conference that the “best candidate” should get the job, regardless of the nationality. It’s not a direct endorsement of Guardiola by any means (since Thomas Tuchel is also linked with the job), but England should heed Carsley’s advice.
Changing of the guard in the front office
On the other hand, Txiki Begiristain will leave the Etihad at the end of the season after spending the last 12 years at Manchester City. The 60-year-old Spaniard was the architect behind the Sky Blues’ recent period of dominance in the English top-flight, as he and Pep Guardiola built the team brick by brick.
Under Begiristain, Manchester City have won seven Premier League titles, two FA Cups, six EFL Cups, and one Champions League.
Hugo Viana, who is currently finishing his final year as Sporting’s director of football, will replace Txiki Begiristain at the helm.
Sporting broke their Primeira Liga title drought in 2020-21, and they’re the defending champions this year. The Lisbon-based outfit has also developed a solid scouting and recruiting network and finished three straight financial calendars with a profit for the first time ever under Viana.
Last season, Sporting earned a record revenue of €246.7 million, largely due to the sales of Manuel Ugarte and Pedro Porro. Hugo Viana was also responsible for selling Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Nunes to Manchester United and Wolves, respectively.
Because of his impressive resume, Viana seems like a worthy successor of Begiristain. Txiki Begiristain’s departure, however, could play a huge role in Pep Guardiola’s decision come 2025.
Former star defender issues grievance
Former Manchester City full-back Benjamin Mendy is claiming £11.5 million in unpaid wages from when he was charged in August 2021 and suspended without pay by his former club.
The 30-year-old defender, now with Ligue 2 side Lorient, was cleared in 2023 of a series of rape and attempted rape charges.
After Mendy was first arrested in November 2020, he was still receiving his wages from Manchester City. However, the Sky Blues argued that they didn’t have to do so after he was “unable to perform his contractual duties” because he wasn’t allowed in the training ground or at the Etihad.
Benjamin Mendy said he had to sell his Cheshire mansion to cover his bills and child support payments. He even reportedly lent money from his former teammates Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, and Riyad Mahrez because of his financial struggles.
Mendy recently brought his case at the employment tribunal that will last for two days.
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