News struck last night that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will leave the Citizens at the end of the season after ten very successful years in charge of the club. His shoes will be filled by apprentice Enzo Maresca, who was assistant manager to Pep in 2023 before joining Leicester.

Pep's reign at City was dominant to say the least, the Spaniard guided the blue side of Manchester to a Champions League, six Premier League titles, and seven domestic trophies.

Fans and managers of English rivals will be elated with the news as City's dominance in English football hangs in the balance after their managerial change. Clubs will be queuing up for a chance to de-throne City, Michael Carrick's Manchester United included.

Former United bagsman Wayne Rooney spoke on The Wayne Rooney Podcast about how this affects the Premier League's hierarchy, and how the English top division could be 'exciting' next season.

Rooney's thoughts on the future at City differ from the expected; the 40-year-old has been critical of the Citizens' dynamic after Pep's tenure, comparing it to Sir Alex Ferguson's departure and drawing parallels to the seasons that followed the Scotsman's departure in 2013.

"There's no way they'll be as successful," Rooney said when discussing City next season.

"I think the issue Man City will have is, obviously, when you see how difficult it was to replace Alex Ferguson, how difficult it was, even Unai Emery went in at Arsenal and how difficult he found it to replace Arsene Wenger.

"I don't think it'll be [easy] replacing him, I think it's the respect in which he commands and the influence and the pull in signing players.

"And the talk is Maresca is gonna go in, and I just don't think that will have the same impact from that point of view."

Maresca, Pep's replacement, lacks the experience a top-tier manager demands, but in his short stints both at Chelsea and Leicester City, he improved both squads and implemented a style of football that aided both clubs to a period of success.

Marseca guided Chelsea to a Club World Cup and a Conference League title, pushing the London side back into the top four in the process and stabilising a divided dressing room. That said, his time at Chelsea ended abruptly after Marseca disagreed with the club's behind-the-scenes proceedings.

Continuing, Rooney said, "So I really do think it opens it up and the Premier League next season is gonna be so exciting.

"You're obviously gonna have City with a new manager, Chelsea with a new manager, Man United, Liverpool potentially with a new manager. So the Premier League next year will be wide open to see who wins that title."

With City and United both confirmed to be getting new managers, Xabi Alonso's announcement at Chelsea this week, and Liverpool's relationship with Arne Slot on the ropes, the Premier League may truly be an exciting spectacle next season.

It's no secret that this season's Premier League campaign has seen a dip in quality compared to previous seasons. The title leaders, Arsenal, sit two points off the Premier League champions' lowest points tally since Leicester City's remarkable title win in 2015/16.

That said, challengers have fallen short, reigning champions Liverpool sit fifth despite spending over £300 million last summer, their lowest position for three years. United completed the double over Liverpool this season, underscoring Liverpool's underwhelming campaign.

Carrick looks set to take charge of United permanently following an improvement in proceedings at the club and a fantastic run of form. The 44-year-old looks forward to his first transfer window in the top-flight of English football, and has already endorsed a few names.

Mateus Fernandes, Alex Scott, and Ellito Anderson are names reportedly of interest to Carrick and the recruitment team, and with an apparent £140 million to spend this summer, we may see all three sign as United players.

Given the situatuions of other Premier Leagye contenders, and Arsenal's unconvincing sprint to the title, there is no reason why the Reds cannot challenged for the title once again, and Carrick may be the man to guide us there.