Manchester City could reportedly spend as much as £300m to strengthen their squad if current manager Pep Guardiola leaves the club next summer.
Regarded by many as one of, if not the, greatest manager of all time, Guardiola has entered his ninth season in charge of Man City and has transformed the club into the dominant force of English football in recent history.
The 53-year-old has won a total of 18 trophies as Citizens boss, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four EFL Cups and one Champions League.
Having now entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola's long-term future at Man City is uncertain.
The Catalan coach admitted at the end of last season that he is "closer to leaving than staying" at Man City after suggesting that he is running out of things to achieve.
Guardiola then stated during pre-season that he "would love to stay" at the club beyond the 2024-25 campaign, but stressed that a decision on his future involves a number of factors.
Man City to splash cash if Guardiola leaves?
Man City are known to be one of the richest clubs in world football and have spend significant sums on players following Sheikh Mansour's takeover in 2008.
However, the Citizens have strengthened their financial power courtesy of a sustained period of unprecedented success under the tutelage of Guardiola, opening up lucrative commercial revenue streams, while they have also recouped large sums from a plethora of player sales in recent years.
Indeed, The Mirror claims that Man City have generated around £265m from player sales alone over the last 12 months, with around £140m made during the summer transfer window.
The report adds that Man City have posted total profits of £122m over the last two years and those figures will put the Premier League champions in a position of strength when UEFA's new financial sustainability rules are tightened up in 2025.
With that in mind, it is claimed that Guardiola's legacy at Man City will include a £300m-plus transfer warchest if the legendary manager decides to leave the Etihad next year.
It has also been reported that the Citizens could hand Guardiola up to £100m to bolster his squad in the January transfer window as they chase down a record fifth consecutive Premier League title and a second Champions League trophy.
Who could Man City look to sign in 2025?
Man City experienced a quiet summer transfer window in terms of incomings, with winger Savinho and midfielder Ilkay Gundogan the only two players to arrive at the Etihad.
It has been widely suggested that the Citizens will target a new attack-minded player in future transfer windows following the £82m departure of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid.
Two names who have been linked with a possible big-money switch to the Etihad are Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala and Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, who are said to have been on Man City's radar for some time.
Guardiola's side are also said to have a long-term admiration for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze, while they have also been credited with an interest in Athletic Bilbao's Oihan Sancet.
Man City have also been tipped to reinforce their midfield at a time when star lynchpin Rodri has been linked with Real Madrid, with Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes believed to be one of their leading targets. body check tags ::
