PSG to battle Chelsea for services of former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola

Big-spending Parisians lining up two times Champions League winner

Chelsea's plans to appoint Pep Guardiola next summer have been dealt a major blow after it emerged that Paris Saint-Germain will also be competing for the manager's services.

While the Blues have not expressly stated their intention to bring in the former Barcelona manager, the appointment of Rafael Benitez on an 'interim' basis and Roman Abramovich's admiration for Guardiola mean a move is not in question.

Yet the big spending west Londoners will have to compete with the big spending Parisians if they are to recruit the Spaniard when his 12 month sabbatical comes to an end.

The French giants' Qatari owners have reportedly lost patience with current manager Carlo Ancelotti, despite the Italian guiding the club to the knock out phase of the Champions League and to within five points of the Ligue 1 summit.

While Guardiola will not make a decision on his future until the new year, it's reported that PSG have already made an approach to the manager who delivered three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in his four years at the Nou Camp.

Ironically, if a bid for Guardiola fails, PSG will likely turn to former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho who, according to reports in Spain, will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.