Credit: Imago

Wayne Veysey

Fri 20 March 2026 9:00, UK Updated Fri 20 March 2026 9:58, UK

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Manchester City are favouring the appointment of Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany to replace Pep Guardiola this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

The City legend is believed to be the hierarchy’s “top choice”, although Enzo Maresca remains a strong contender and more likely at this stage.

The Italian knows the club, having worked under Guardiola before embarking on his own managerial career, and is available after his sudden Chelsea departure in January.

How do the leading candidates actually compare? Click here for our deep-dive tactical analysis of Vincent Kompany vs Enzo Maresca.

Kompany is on course to win the Bundesliga for the second consecutive season, with his team also remaining in contention for the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal.

A compensation package likely worth over £10million would need to be agreed with Bayern if he is to become Man City’s next manager, with the 39-year-old under contract until 2029.

Pep Guardiola to call time on Manchester City career

Bayern have stated that Kompany does not have a formal release clause in his contract with the club.

But that was the same when the former defender was lured from Burnley in 2024. He did not have a buy-out clause but a compensation fee in the region of £8-10m was paid by the Bundesliga giants to the Premier League club to secure the release form his contract.

Football Insider exclusively revealed on Thursday that City expect Guardiola to leave this summer.

Decision-makers at the Etihad Stadium are braced for the Spaniard’s 10-year tenure to come to an end, leaving a legendary impact.

Guardiola’s time at Man City has immeasurably changed the Premier League, with his imprint visible throughout the league.

Mikel Arteta, who worked under the former Barcelona manager, could be the first of his proteges to win the Premier League if Arsenal can get over the line this season.

Contenders for the Man City job – Kompany, Maresca and Xabi Alonso – all also worked under Guardiola as players and staff members, with his legacy set to continue after his departure.

But his time in the Premier League appears to be coming to an end, with the 55-year-old seemingly ready to step away this summer.

Vincent Kompany impressing at Bayern Munich

It was a shock to many when Bayern appointed Kompany in 2024. The Belgian had just been relegated from the Premier League with Burnley, and his only other experience had come with Anderlecht.

But the German giants were convinced that the 39-year-old would be the perfect manager to replace Thomas Tuchel, and they have been proved right.

Despite a disappointing first Champions League campaign that saw Bayern go out at the quarter-final stage to Inter Milan, Kompany’s first season saw the Bundesliga return amid a league campaign that saw them lose just two games.

They are on course to go even better this season, with a clash against Real Madrid awaiting in the Champions League quarter-final, and Bayer Leverkusen in the semi-final of the DFB-Pokal.

Bayern will fight to keep hold of Kompany this summer, with the manager potentially to be coming off the back of a treble-winning season.