Man City land new director of football as Hugo Viana agrees deal to become Txiki Begiristain’s successor after heroics at Sporting… and will Ruben Amorim follow him to the Etihad amid Pep Guardiola uncertainty?

Manchester City have agreed a deal for Sporting’s Hugo Viana to replace Txiki Begiristain as a new era dawns at the Etihad Stadium.

Begiristain, considered one of the best sporting directors in European football, will leave the Premier League champions at the end of the season.

Mail Sport reported his likely departure in the summer and City have been sounding out potential successors for some time.

Former Newcastle United midfielder Viana topped that list after impressing during his six years at Sporting while working under manager Ruben Amorim.

Sporting have won two of the last four Portuguese titles and this season lead the league with eight consecutive victories.

Begiristain (far right), who has held the position since 2012, will step down at the end of the season

Interestingly, they will host Pep Guardiola’s City in the Champions League group stage early next month and Viana’s transfer is expected to be finalized before then.

The 41-year-old’s decision to pay more than £10m to take Amorim from Braga in 2020 was seen as the catalyst for his period of dominance.

City wants the new sporting director to have a relief period with Begiristain for six months before the Spaniard leaves.

Guardiola’s future remains unresolved, with the 53-year-old out of contract at the end of the season.