Manchester City are preparing two coaching appointments at academy level, with Under-21s boss Ben Wilkinson leaving to join John Eustace’s staff at Derby County.
Wilkinson goes with the club’s blessing after two years in the role and several more at City before that. His exit opens up the Under-18s position too, with that vacancy also expected to be filled internally.
Reiss, who has impressed at Under-18s level, reaching four finals in two seasons and proving popular with the squad, is set for promotion into the Under-21s job. Lauris Coggin, who assisted Wilkinson with the Under-21s last season after a decade in West Ham’s academy, including a spell as their Under-18s lead coach, has been lined up to fill the role Reiss vacates.
It continues a familiar pattern at City, where academy coaches are increasingly poached just as their players are. Wilkinson’s predecessor Brian Barry-Murphy went on to Leicester before taking charge at Cardiff, and before him it was Enzo Maresca — now back at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola’s successor.
The reshuffle is designed to give City continuity heading into pre-season, with academy players due back in July and several in line for a place on the club’s tour of Asia, given how many senior players are away at the World Cup.
