Next Man City manager odds revealed as our traders prepare for Pep exit

With Liverpool sweeping Southampton aside and Manchester City losing at Tottenham, poor Pep Guardiola’s promise to keep the title race competitive is dying a death with City now 22 points behind the league leaders.

We’re all pepped up for the Winter break. Now the Catalan wizard could be set for a longer one. Guardiola is adamant he will stick with City next season but the situation reminds me more and more of my first ever girlfriend – by the end my heart just wasn’t in it anymore.

So if Pep follows my lead and pulls the trigger, who could replace him at the Etihad? Well, the outright favourite is Mauricio Pochettino at 2/1 to be the next permanent City boss. He is currently kicking his heels as a free agent having been sacked by Spurs last November.

I never fancied those links of Pochettino to Arsenal but I could definitely see him at City – a good step up for him and the players would respect him.

Next in line is Julian Nagelsmann at 7/1, one of those names that makes me think I should follow German football closer.  A quick Google search tells me his RB Leipzig side are second in the Bundesliga in an exciting title race with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach.

Third in the running is Max Allegri (10/1), linked with every big job in England but apparently doesn’t speak very good English. Hmmm. I’m also not sold on Ajax boss Erik ten Hag (12/1) or PSG coach Thomas Tuchel (14/1) but how about Mikel Arteta at 14/1? Unlikely given he’s just left City for Arsenal, but they do like him up there.

Diego Simeone at 16/1 – now you’re talking. Those are decent odds for a manager under pressure at Atletico Madrid, who aren’t having a great season in La Liga.

Brendan Rodgers at 25/1 is a bit tasty, but he does seem committed to Leicester. And for those who like a long shot, Rafa Benitez at 66/1?

Next Man City manager – the full rundown of candidates

Mauricio Pochettino 2/1

Julian Nagelsmann 7/1

Massimiliano Allegro 10/1

Erik ten Hag 12/1

Mikel Arteta 14/1

Thomas Tuchel 14/1

Antonio Conte 16/1

Diego Simeone 16/1

Laurent Blanc 20/1

Zinedine Zidane 20/1

Carlo Ancelotti 20/1

Nuno Espirito Santo 25/1

Joachim Low 25/1

Brendan Rodgers 25/1

Didier Deschamps 25/1

Luis Enrique 33/1

Daniel Farke 66/1

Rafa Benitez 66/1

Jose Mourinho 66/1

Ralph Hasenhuttl 66/1

Robert Martinez 66/1

Gareth Southgate 100/1

Chris Wilder 100/1

Jurgen Klopp 100/1

Terence Kongolo 500/1

Neil Warnock 500/1

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