Pep Guardiola to Manchester City: Coach to quit Bayern Munich with Carlo Ancelotti lined up as his replacement

An announcement could be made before 24 December, according to reports in Spain

If Guardiola does leave Bayern, he will almost certainly do so for a job in the Premier League (Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola will join Manchester City in the summer after deciding against extending his stay with Bayern Munich, according to reports in Spain.

The former Barcelona coach, long linked with a move to the Etihad, has already decided he will move away from Germany after three seasons in charge of the Bundesliga giants, with his one remaining desire to manage in England, according to Spanish radio station Cope.

The report states that Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge will announce before their winter break on 24 December who is to take charge of the club in 2016-17 - but it will be former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti rather than Guardiola.

Although nothing formal has been agreed, the report states that City CEO Ferran Soriano and director Txiki Begiristain, two friends of Guardiola’s from his Barcelona days, have received word from the Catalan coach.

Manuel Pellegrini, whose City team are currently third in the Premier League ahead of their game with Southampton this weekend, has another year to run on his contract but that will be terminated for Guardiola.

There have been no discussions between Ancelotti and Bayern, according to the report.

Carlo Ancelotti could replace Guardiola at Bayern Munich (Getty Images)

City have also today been linked with a stunning offer for Lionel Messi in a further attempt to lure Guardiola to the club.

Guardiola has won the Bundesliga in both of his two seasons at Bayern, with the side currently eight points clear of rivals Borussia Dortmund and unbeaten after 13 matches.