Pep Guardiola has 'contract deadline' before outcome is expected from 115 charges

Pep Guardiola will have to make a decision on his Manchester City future before the club learn the outcome of their 115 charges, reports suggest.

Guardiola's entered what could be his final season with the club, with the contract extension he signed in 2022 expiring next year. It's no secret where City stand on the matter - they'd happily hand the 53-year-old a new deal.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak remains hopeful of convincing him to stay, just as he did two years ago. But he will need an answer one way or the other by a certain point.

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According to Sky Sports, that deadline has been set for Christmas. That would give them the necessary time to complete the process of finding his successor, much like Jurgen Klopp gave Liverpool many months to fill their vacancy.

However, that does mean Guardiola will have to make up his mind without having the full picture, as their court case against the Premier League isn't expected to be finalised this year. It will finally commence in September, 18 months after they were charged with 115 alleged breaches of the competition's financial rules.

Sky suggests submissions from both parties could last around 10 weeks before the independent commission then reflects upon all of the evidence. As a result, the decision could be made after the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign.

City have always strongly denied any wrongdoing and believe they'll be exonerated by the process. Guardiola vowed to stick by the club if they were found guilty, but he may be gone regardless.

He admitted earlier