Friday 27 November 2015 14:02, UK
We look at Pep Guardiola's potential options after the Spaniard is backed into odds-on to leave Bayern Munich this summer...
Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge cast doubt on Guardiola's future on Thursday, suggesting the club would cope if he decides not to extend his current deal, which expires at the end of the season, with various press reports since suggesting that he is set to take over at Manchester City in the summer.
Confirming that talks will commence during the Bundesliga's winter break, Rummenigge said: "There is no person in this world who can't be replaced at some point. That's the state of things. Players come, players go, and the same applies to coaches. They come and they go at one point."
Here's a look at the potential options for of the 44-year-old according to Sky Bet's odds…
Stay at Bayern Munich (11/8 with Sky Bet)
Despite little concrete to suggest otherwise, the odds are now against Guardiola extending his current deal when he meets with the club's hierarchy after their trip to Hannover on December 19. Sky Bet made Guardiola odds-on to remain at the Allianz Arena beyond the current campaign when they opened betting, but report the majority of interest has been him Bundesliga title. While he may be on course to win a third successive league title, Guardiola is yet to win the Champions League at Bayern, something he will surely be motivated by, especially given his predecessor Jupp Heynckes left on the back of an unprecedented treble.
Manchester City (4/7 with Sky Bet)
According to the bookies, Manchester City are considered the most likely alternative option for Guardiola. There's little to suggest that current manager Manuel Pellegrini is under real pressure but after winning the Premier League and the Capital One Cup in his first season in charge, he has failed to add to the club's silverware collection. City have continued to underwhelm this season, sitting third after just three wins from their last nine games.
Arsenal (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Few are more secure in their positions than Arsene Wenger, but could Arsenal be tempted if Guardiola does decide to leave the Allianz Arena? With Wenger aged 66 and boasting only two FA Cups in the last decade, the odds suggest so. His ethos certainly suits the Emirates club, having applied a possession-based philosophy when he was in charge of Barcelona.
PSG (10/1 with Sky Bet)
Laurent Blanc has been racking up Ligue 1 titles nicely for over two seasons now, but how long until the club's owners expect a greater return for their hefty investment? The Champions League is undoubtedly the No 1 goal after dominating domestically for some time, and Blanc will be hoping Qatar Sports Investments still see him as the man to reach that goal if Guardiola becomes available.
Barcelona (10/1 with Sky Bet)
With Luis Enrique doing a fine job at the Nou Camp, returning to Barca would potentially have to involve Guardiola extending his stay in Munich and returning at a later date. While the possibility looks some way off, it remains to be seen whether he would want to go back for a second coaching stint and potentially blemish the success achieved as a player and then manager.
Chelsea (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Despite Chelsea's nightmare start to the season, the club has shown loyalty to Jose Mourinho in his second stint in charge, but will it stand firm if Guardiola becomes available? Only time will tell but the 'Special One' will be hoping that back-to-back wins are an early indication that his side are turning the corner. Of course, Guardiola is an old adversary of Mourinho from when they were in charge of Spain's two biggest clubs - Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Manchester United (16/1 with Sky Bet)
Louis van Gaal insists he will only remain at Manchester United until the end of the 2016/17 season, giving the club plenty of time to search for his successor. Sir Alex Ferguson famously sounded out Guardiola after deciding to finally retire, only to discover an agreement had already been reached with Bayern, and United could be keen if Guardiola stays in Germany for one more year.
England (22/1 with Sky Bet)
Any optimistic hopes that Guardiola could be eyeing up the England job as his next project were comprehensively dismissed in September, as he walked out of a press conference when pressed on the prospect. "Oh come on, I'm coach of Bayern Munich," he said. "Many thanks and auf wiedersehen." Guardiola might not be Bayern boss for much longer, but it still seems far-fetched to suggest he would be willing to talk to the English FA.
Real Madrid (25/1 with Sky Bet)
The most controversial of options on the list compiled by Sky Bet. Could Guardiola really turn his back on his Barcelona roots and take charge of bitter rivals Real Madrid? Rafael Benitez is certainly a man under pressure at the Bernabeu, with Florentino Perez's dreaded vote of confidence doing little to mute speculation surrounding his future. However, given the amount of options Guardiola is likely to be presented with, it would represent a huge shock to see him head to the Spanish capital.
