Manchester City in talks with Enzo Maresca - though Italian has 'commitments' to Chelsea: report

How do you replace such a totemic figure as Pep Guardiola?

That's the problem Manchester City are said to be preparing for this summer amid speculation that the iconic manager might step away at the end of the season.

Guardiola has delivered trophy after trophy for City, and is hoping to go out on a high with the Premier League title race on a knife-edge and the FA Cup semi-finals coming up this weekend.

Manchester City talking to Enzo Maresca, but Chelsea might stand in the way

City have long been reported to be eyeing a move for former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca when the time comes to replace Guardiola.

The Italian worked under Guardiola as City, first as their youth team manager and then later as an assistant coach during their treble-winning season after returning from a short-live managerial spell with Parma.

Guardiola has made no secret of his admiration for his former right-hand man, and the Guardian now report that City have held 'positive talks' with Maresca about the possibility of him taking over at the Etihad Stadium.

Maresca has been out of work since stepping away from Chelsea in January, and while he had his critics at Stamford Bridge, the club's struggles since his departure have cast the job he did there in a more positive light.

Reports vary as to whether Maresca was sacked or walked away - the Guardian say he quit - but what is clear is that his relationship with the Chelsea hierarchy broke down in the months following their Club World Cup triumph last summer.

His replacement, Liam Rosenior, was sacked this week after leading Chelsea through a dismal run of form.

However, the terms of Mareca's exit from Chelsea could pose a stumbling block for Manchester City.

Maresca still has 'contractual obligations' to Chelsea, with his contract with the club set to run until summer 2029.

The nature of those obligations is not clear, but it is not uncommon in football for a managerial dismissal to actually mean the contract remains active, with the manager instead officially placed on garden leave.

Non-compete clauses are more limited in UK law than in other parts of the world, with six months typically considered reasonable where it is done in the protection of legitimate business interests.