Manchester City target former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti as back-up to Pep Guardiola if they sack Manuel Pellegrini

Current City manager Manuel Pellegrini cannot afford to go another season without winning a trophy

Carlo Ancelotti is wanted by Manchester City if Pep Guardiola turns them down (Getty Images)

Manchester City will look to target Carlo Ancelotti if their prime managerial target Pep Guardiola decides to stay with Bayern Munich in the summer, should they decide to sack current manager Manuel Pellegrini.

The Chilean was given a one-year contract extension in August despite speculation over his future last summer, but it is understood that the City hierarchy will not stand for another season of perceived failure after failing to win a trophy last season.

After relinquishing the Premier League title to Chelsea, City mounted a spending spree in the summer that saw them add Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi to their squad, but Pellegrini is now expected to win the title this season given Chelsea’s drop-off early on.

It has been made common knowledge that Guardiola is high up on City’s radar should they decide to axe Pellegrini at the end of the summer, and they could do so even if City enjoy a successful season given that the club would want to try and snap up the former Barcelona head coach when they have the chance.

However, City are already making contingency plans should Guardiola decide to extend his contract with Bayern beyond the end of the season, and the Daily Star reports that former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Ancelotti would be a prime candidate to take on the job.

The likelihood seems to be that Guardiola will remain at the Allianz Arena and contract talks are due to start next month. That has alerted City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak to the possibility of missing out on the 44-year-old Spaniard, and Ancelotti would certainly fit the bill given his outstanding CV.

A source close to the club said: “Pellegrini’s job is safe at the moment, but we know how quickly this can all change and if it did then Carlo Ancelotti is one of two men the club want.”

Ancelotti is currently without a job after being sacked by Real in the summer, despite leading the Spanish club to their famous La Decima Champions League success just 12 months before. The 56-year-old Italian has also been linked with a return to Chelsea should Roman Abramovich decide to cut his losses and sack Jose Mourinho, although Ancelotti himself revealed this week that he understands that will not happen any time soon.

As well as winning the Champions League with Real, Ancelotti tasted European success twice with AC Milan, while he also won domestic league titles in England, Italy and France with Paris Saint-Germain.