Manchester City has already lined up Pep Guardiola’s successor at Etihad, according to report.

Giovanni van ­Bronckhorst has been seen as the manager who will take charge after the reign of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.The Mirror says City approached former Feyenoord coach Van Bronckhorst – who has signed a contract that has put him on the payroll. Giovanni van ­Bronckhorst will remain in Manchester if it proves a good fit, Guardiola’s contract will expire in the summer of 2021.Manchester City learn from Manchester United experience after their city rivals find it difficult to replace to Sir Alex Ferguson, the Spanish executives who run the club for Sheikh Mansour want to put a succession plan in place to avoid the mistake made by the Old Trafford directors.

Van Bronckhorst will spend the next year getting to know the inner workings of the club that has become the dominant force in English football over the last decade.He is currently working alongside close friend Brian Marwood, City’s highly-influential Football Administration Officer.