Guardiola extends, De Bruyne replaced, Man Utd pipped - Hugo Viana's dream Man City start

Hugo Viana will take over from Txiki Begiristain as 's director of football at the end of the season. And he has big shoes to fill, with Begiristain enjoying huge success in the role since 2012.

With that in mind, Viana is set to spend six months working alongside Begiristain, starting in February, to ensure a smooth handover process. The outgoing Sporting transfer chief will arrive at the Etihad Stadium at a crucial time for the Blues, with 's future uncertain and a handful of key players soon to be out of contract.

Here, Express Sport takes you through three things that would make up a dream start for Viana in Manchester...

Pep Guardiola extends

The former Barcelona boss, who also worked with Begiristain in Catalonia, will have been at City for nine years by the time his contract expires at the end of the campaign. He has already won six Premier League titles, six domestic cups and a Champions League, and he could have added more by the time June rolls around.

It stands to reason, therefore, that convincing Guardiola to extend his stay at the Etihad would be a huge win for the reigning champions. If the uncertainty around his future drags on until February and beyond, it will be partly down to Begiristain and newcomer Viana to do the convincing.

Kevin De Bruyne replaced

To be clear: no player in world football can come in as a like-for-like replacement for City's Belgian talisman. But Viana may be wise to start thinking about who may represent the next best thing.

De Bruyne has cemented himself as one of the best players of the Premier League era during his time in Manchester. And while he deserves the freedom of the Etihad for as long as he is able to play, age and injuries are increasingly becoming a factor.

Bearing in mind De Bruyne's wages, the fact he has played only 22 league games and scored five goals since the start of last season is a concern. The 33-year-old will be out of contract in June and he is the subject of strong links to the MLS.

Whether Viana sets about snapping up an attacking playmaker to be trained up at City while De Bruyne is still at the club, or selects an outright replacement, the issue cannot be ignored.

Man Utd plan foiled

Even if Guardiola extends his stay at City, the Spaniard is unlikely to stick around for a whole lot longer. Agreeing fresh terms with Guardiola would put off the process of choosing an heir, but not take it off the table altogether.

Promisingly for the Blues, Viana is well-positioned to strike an agreement with one of the most exciting young managers in Europe. The 41-year-old helped to appoint Ruben Amorim at Sporting four years ago and the pair enjoy a healthy working relationship.

City and Manchester United are both believed to be keen on Amorim. But with Viana soon to be in position, it is clear to see how City would hold the upper hand in a head-to-head battle.