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Hugo Viana will reportedly replace Txiki Begiristain as Manchester City's new director of football next year. The Sporting CP director has a fine reputation in European football and will head to the Etihad next summer.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Viana will be Begiristain's replacement. The Spaniard is leaving the club after over a decade spent transforming them into one of Europe's powerhouses.
Viana was Manchester City's immediate top candidate, and they have completed an agreement with the Portuguese. He'll leave Sporting next year after impressing as the director of football at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
The former Newcastle United midfielder was the man behind successful signings such as Viktor Gyokeres, Morten Hjulmand and Ousmane Diomande. He's helped Ruben Amorim's side from a board perspective, winning two Liga Portugal titles.
Begiristain's departure comes amid the ongoing investigation into City's 115 charges for breaking financial fair play rules. He was at the club during the period in which the Premier League have accused the reigning champions of breaching the competition's financial rules.
The former Barcelona director has been Pep Guardiola's right-hand man and a significant figure at the Etihad. He follows former chief football operations officer, Omar Berrada, who left to take up the role of Manchester United's CEO in the summer.
Manchester City eye up FC Porto's Diogo Costa and Ederson's replacement: Reports
One of Viana's first jobs as Manchester City's new director of football will be to thrash out Ederson's future at the Etihad. The Brazilian goalkeeper has been a mainstay in Guardiola's side since arriving from Benfica in July 2017 for €40 million.
Ederson, 31, will enter the final year of his contract next summer, and he has received interest from the Saudi Pro League. Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad were interested in signing the veteran shot-stopper in the summer, but he remained with City.
Fichajes (via Caught Offside) reports that Saudi interest remains, and given his contract situation, City may cash in. They have identified Porto's Diogo Costa as the man to replace him should a change be required.
Costa, 25, has been impressing in Liga Portugal at the Estadio do Dragao and was excellent at Euro 2024. He's kept five clean sheets in 11 games across competitions this season.
The Cityzens may have to fork out around £63 million (€75 million) to bring Costa to the Etihad. He has just over three years left on his contract with Porto.
