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Pep Guardiola: Manchester United, Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal target to leave Bayern Munich this summer

He will be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti

Sunday 20 December 2015 12:10 GMT

Bayern Munich head coach Pep Guardiola could be offered a new deal worth £17m-a-year (Getty Images)

The battle for the services of Pep Guardiola can officially begin after Bayern Munich confirmed that he would be leaving them this summer.

The Bundesliga side have announced that the Spanish coach will be replaced by former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti - as the Independent reported earlier this week.

Guardiola is expected to come to the Premier League - but with which club remains to be seen - with Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea all linked with the 44-year-old former Barcelona coach.

"We're grateful to Guardiola for everything he has given to our club since 2013," Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement published on the Bundesliga club's website.

"I am convinced that Pep and our team are now going to work even more intensively on realising our sporting ambitions, particularly now that it has been confirmed that Pep will be leaving Bayern.

"Carlo Ancelotti has had success as a coach everywhere and he has won the Champions League three times.

"Carlo is a calm, level-headed expert who knows how to work with stars and plays a brand of football rich in variety.

"That is what we were looking for, and that is what we have found. We are looking forward to working with him."

Guardiola, has made no secret of his desire to work in the Premier League at some stage of his career and City are currently strong favourites to land him.

City director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano both have a long-standing friendship with Guardiola from their time together at Barcelona and the pair have convinced City’s Abu Dhabi hierarchy that they can lure the Bayern coach to the Etihad.

And although Manuel Pellegrini was given a one-year contract extension in August, securing him to the club until June 2017, the Chilean would make way for Guardiola next summer should City persuade him to make the move.

Manchester United have publicly said they are happy with current manager Louis van Gaal, however the situation at Old Trafford is becoming increasingly fluid following the club's elimination from the Champions League and concerning results in the Premier League, most recently the 2-1 home defeat to Norwich.

The 17 strikers who could move in January

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1/17The 17 strikers who could move in January

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Edinson Cavani (PSG)

Age: 28

Stats in 2015-16: 22 games, 11 goals

Value: £32million

Teams interested: Man United, Arsenal

- The Uruguayan is reportedly happy to cross the channel once PSG find a suitable replacement. With an excellent hit rate in Ligue 1 this year, Louis van Gaal feels he could provide experienced support for Anthony Martial as the Frenchman settles in to regular first-team time while Wayne Rooney’s form dips. Arsenal tried to sign him last year, but a £50m price tag changed their minds. With the Gunners’ injury crisis worsening, he could pique their interest once more. Cavani has been unhappy at PSG having to play second-fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in past seasons.

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli)

Age: 27

Stats in 2015-16: 19 games, 18 goals

Value: £40m

Teams Interested: Arsenal, Chelsea

A proven finisher at club and international level, Higuain is enjoying a stellar season in Naples. With Napoli in the hunt for their first Serie A title in 26 years, It would surely take a mammoth fee to steal the Argentine - in the prime of his career - away from Italy.

2015 Getty Images

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)

Age: 26

Stats in 2015-16: 19 games, 13 goals

Value: £50m

Teams Interested: : Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea

A player whose name seems to be brought up when any top side’s transfer targets are mentioned, Reus is a world class forward who could give a plethora of clubs in England the 'X Factor' needed to secure league and European titles. Having signed a new contract with Dortmund earlier in the year when Jurgen Klopp was still there, Liverpool are the bookies’ favourites to claim his signature.

2015 Getty Images For MAN

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund)

Age: 26

Stats in 2015-16: 19 games, 25 goals

Value: £40m+

Teams interested: Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool

The Gabonese striker has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season, but will surely be keen to try his hand in a new league while playing in his prime. United seem to be the frontrunners for his services if he opts to move. Is said to have made a pact with Reus that they will leave the club at the same time.

Getty Images

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Mauro Icardi (Internazionale)

Age: 22

Stats in 2015-16: 12 games, 4 goals

Value: £35m

Teams Interested: Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool

Icardi is captain of the Nerazzurri at the tender age of 22, and top scored last season as Inter Milan finished 8th in Serie A. He hasn’t quite hit the same heights this season but provides an all-round game that few young players in Europe can match - his off-field antics and temper may be a warning flag for some suitors.

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)

Age: 24

Stats in 2015-16: 21 games, 8 goals

Value: £20m+

Teams interested: Chelsea

Lyon’s talisman has been unable to repeat his goalscoring heroics from last season, when he top scored in Ligue 1 with 27 goals, as his side whimpered out of the Champions League last week. The French side may still be unwilling to sell one of their most crucial players for anything less than full whack.

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Alexandre Pato (Sao Paulo)

Age: 26

Stats in 2015: 33 games, 10 goals

Value: £14m

Teams interested: Liverpool, Arsenal

Jurgen Klopp’s first signing in Merseyside could be former AC Milan star Pato. A deal ‘in principal’ is already believed to exist, and he would provide the German with more attacking options, with the Brazilian able to play wide or through the middle. Danny Ings is out for the rest of the season, Daniel Sturridge remains a constant injury concern and Divock Origi has only shown flashes of promise.

2015 Getty Images

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Saido Berahino (West Brom)

Age: 22

Stats in 2015-16: 11 games, 3 goals

Value: £20m

Teams interested: Tottenham, Chelsea

A stellar 2014-15 season nearly ended up with the Englishman at White Hart Lane, but the deal was called off after the Baggies asked more than Spurs were willing to pay. With Tony Pulis and Berahino not seeing eye-to-eye, he could make a fine replacement for Diego Costa at Chelsea who is having similar managerial issues at Chelsea, or a decent back-up for Harry Kane at Tottenham.

2015 Getty Images

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Sadio Mane (Southampton)

Age: 23

Stats in 2015-16: 17 games, 6 goals

Value: £20 Million

Teams interested: Man United, Chelsea

Though Ronald Koeman is adamant that the African footballer of the year candidate is not for sale, Manchester United and Chelsea are fiercely interested. United offered the Saints £20m in the summer, but were rejected, and though they may try again in the New Year, a similar outcome is likely.

2015 Getty Images

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Charlie Austin (QPR)

Age: 26

Stats in 2015-16: 14 games, 8 goals

Value: £15m

Teams Interested: Sunderland, Newcastle, West Ham

It was a surprise that no Premier League sides snapped up Austin after his superb 2014/15 season, when his 18 goals led him to fourth place in the Golden boot charts. £15m sounds steep but Austin is a proven goalscorer in the top flight - so it would be no surprise to see a mid-low table Premier League side take a chance with him.

2015 Getty Images

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG)

Age: 34

Stats in 2015-16: 19 games, 14 goals

Value: Unknown

Teams interested: Chelsea

Jose Mourinho has supposedly kept good contact with the Sweden superstar since managing him at Inter Milan in 2008-09. Ibrahimovic is out of contract at PSG in the summer, and before he fulfils his plan of retiring in MLS, the striker could be tempted to the Premier League, with a pre-contract agreement on the cards in January to potentially re-unite with Mourinho.

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Breel Embolo (Basel)

Age: 18

Stats in 2015-16: 22 games, 8 goals

Value: £15m

Teams Interested: Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton

A prodigious young talent, Embolo has drawn many admirers for displays that belie his age in Switzerland and at international level. Comparisons have been made between Embolo and Romelu Lukaku due to his powerful physique and any potential suitors of the Cameroon born striker will hope he develops like the Everton forward.

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Gabriel (Santos)

Age: 19

Stats in 2015: 30 games, 10 goals

Value: £30m

Teams Interested: Arsenal, Chelsea

Described in Brazil as 'Better than Neymar', Santos’ Gabriel Barbosa- nicknamed 'GabiGol'- has already developed into a fine finisher, with more than 40 goals before his 20th birthday. Chelsea missed out on signing Neymar from the Brazilian giants back in 2010, and could face competition from Arsenal in seeking out the forward’s signature this time around.

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The 17 strikers who could move in January

Michy Batshuayi (Lyon)

Age: 22

Stats in 2015-16: 17 games, 10 goals

Value: £30m

Teams Interested: Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham

Ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic as Ligue 1’s second top scorer this season, Batshuayi has come on in leaps and bounds since his move from Standard Liege in 2014. Comparisons with the likes of Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku seem to be part and parcel of being a young Belgian forward, but the Marseille striker looks like he is well on his way to equalling or even overtaking his compatriots.

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Nabil Fekir (Lyon)

Age: 22

Stats in 2015-16: 4 games, 4 goals

Value: £35m

Teams Interested: Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs

Deceptively strong, with a low centre of gravity and a wand for a left foot, Nabil Fekir’s rise to prominence last season with Lyon drew many comparisons with Barcelona superstar Leo Messi, and scooped him France’s young player of the year award in the process. Despite his current injury problems he should be fit by the January transfer window- his versatility would be a great asset to the number of top sides said to be courting him.

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo)

Age: 21

Stats in 2015-16: 11 games, 2 goals

Value: £10m+

Teams interested: Liverpool

The young Italian is a versatile forward, equally adept at scoring or assisting, who could be an interesting addition to Liverpool’s squad. Sassuolo claim that they will not sell him this January, while Juventus, who previously co-owned the striker, are said to have an option to sign him ahead of other interested parties

2015 Getty Images

The 17 strikers who could move in January

Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

Age: 28

Stats in 2015-16: 16 games, 14 goals

Value: £30m+

Teams interested: Chelsea

The England international has been a revelation this season, scoring in a Premier League record 11 consecutive games for high-flying, surprise package Leicester. As hard a worker and as fast as any player in the top flight, Vardy's stock will never likely be so high. Would the likes of Chelsea really take a risk on his purple patch continuing?

Chelsea will also be employing a new manager in the summer having sacked Jose Mourinho, although the Independent understands that current Italy coach Antonio Conte is the favourite to be installed.

Guardiola joined Bayern Munich in 2013 and has won the title in both his seasons thus far and is on course to win it a third time this season. During a four year spell at Barcelona he won three league titles and two Champions League titles among many other titles.

Ancelotti, who has been taking a year out since being dismissed by Real Madrid, has signed a three-year contract at the Allianz Arena.

"I'm honoured that I will be the coach of Bayern Munich from next season," he told fcbayern.de.

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