Report: Manchester City plan to promote Borrell if Arteta leaves

Another of Pep Guardiola's assistants is expected to take on more responsibilities at Manchester City if Mikel Arteta is appointed Arsenal manager.

City are planning to promote Rodolfo Borrell and have no plans to add to Guardiola's coaching staff until the summer, The Athletic's Sam Lee, David Ornstein, and Adam Crafton report.

The Gunners still hadn't submitted a formal approach to City for Arteta by Thursday evening, according to The Athletic, but the former Everton and Arsenal midfielder will reportedly be unveiled as the north London outfit's new boss Friday. It's understood Arteta will sign a contract through 2023 at the Emirates Stadium after three-and-a-half years as Guardiola's assistant.

Arteta's anticipated exit would strip Guardiola of a coach who was entrusted with set-piece organization and credited with the development of numerous first-team players. Arteta held close bonds with many members of City's squad and apparently led an emotional farewell at the club's training ground Thursday morning.

City director of football Txiki Begiristain is said to have tried to encourage Arteta to stay and bide his time for a possible gig as Guardiola's successor, but the 37-year-old has decided to move into his first job in management. He was previously linked with the Newcastle United post following Rafa Benitez's offseason departure and was drawing interest from both Arsenal and Everton in recent weeks.

Borrell was rumored to be following Arteta to Arsenal, but The Athletic says he's staying put at Manchester City. Before City, Borrell spent 14 years at Barcelona's famed La Masia academy where he was key in nurturing the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, and Cesc Fabregas. He also served as technical director and head of coaching for Liverpool's academy under Benitez.

Borrell now seems to be set for a bloated job list for the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign.

When the likely tweaks to Guardiola's backroom team occur in the summer, it's unlikely Domenec Torrent will feature. Guardiola's former assistant led New York City FC to the top of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference before stepping down in November and is believed to be pursuing another head coaching role. He's reportedly considering an offer from Brazilian club Atletico Paranaense.