Football awash with Guardiola exit talk as Man City plan for life without him

Semenyo and Guehi entered negotiations with their eyes open. Both had the Premier League's elite to choose from in January. Semenyo was a target for Manchester United , Chelsea and Tottenham . Liverpool , too, were credited with an interest in the 26-year-old, who had a £65m release clause at Bournemouth . He prioritised a move to City. Guehi was admired on an even greater scale. Out of contract at Crystal Palace at the end of this season, the England defender had suitors across Europe. Bayern, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid had serious interest in signing him on a free transfer at the end of the season, while Real Madrid and Barcelona were also in the running. Liverpool 's interest was well documented. Arsenal and Tottenham also tried to convince him to agree to move across London this summer. Guehi chose City. It is inconceivable that either player decided to sign a long-term contract without knowing it is likely the majority of that time will be spent under a manager who is not Guardiola. Of course, the opportunity to work for him - even if it is for six months - is one most players are not afforded. But that alone is unlikely to have been enough to compel Semenyo and Guehi to sign five-and-a-half-year deals. City can no longer lean heavily on the idea of flourishing under Guardiola in their pitches to players. …