Pep Guardiola is reportedly close to signing a new contract at Manchester City that would see him remain in the Premier League for another two years. The news is like Christmas comes early for Citizen supporters but the opposite for their rivals.
The former Barcelona player has taken the club to another level in domestic football since replacing Manuel Pellegrini in July 2016. Guardiola has won 276 of his 374 games in charge at the Etihad Stadium and has lifted a long list of trophies including five Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, one FA Cup and two Community Shields.
Guardiola's current contract is due to expire at the end of the season, his seventh in Manchester, but there has been growing confidence that he will extend stay beyond that. The new deal to keep him at the club until 2025 would take him to nine years in charge, unfamiliar territory for Guardiola after never staying at any club for longer than four years.
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This season, City find themselves in a surprise title race with former coach Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. The Gunners currently hold a five point lead at the top of the Premier League but Guardiola's side are expected to take them the distance in an attempt to make it five league titles in six seasons.
Whilst his philosophy and ideas have seen various transformations in English football, the prospect of another two years of dominance at the Etihad Stadium is unlikely to be greeted with open arms by the rest of the Premier League. And former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand summed up how Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham will be feeling should Guardiola's extension get confirmed.
Following the 0-0 draw between Mexico and Poland in the World Cup on Tuesday, Ferdinand and ex-Manchester City defender Micah Richards were both in contrasting views of the deal on the back of Cristiano Ronaldo's immediate exit at Old Trafford.
Richards called Ronaldo's news as 'good news' alongside Guardiola's new contract, while Ferdinand hung his head and claimed 'it's a terrible day'.
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