Pep Guardiola to Manchester City: Spaniard to be handed 'war chest' to sign Paul Pogba and John Stones

The 45-year-old has agreed a three-year contract equating to an annual salary of €20m (£15.5m)

(Getty)

Incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will be handed with a hefty war chest designed to lure Paul Pogba and John Stones to the Etihad, according to reports.

The 45-year-old has agreed a three-year contract equating to an annual salary of €20m (£15.5m) in a deal which not only makes him the highest paid coach in world football but also eclipses every Premier League player’s wages too.

Bayern Munich boss Guardiola will enjoy the backing of Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the Daily Mail report moves for Pogba, the Juventus ace, and Everton defender Stones will be sanctioned imminently. Across his spells in Bavaria and Barcelona, the Catalonian has lost only 19 of his 239 league games as a manager.

City hope the appointment will help them attract players in an elite market often dominated by the likes of Real Madrid and Barca. Pogba and Stones have reportedly been the subject of tentative interest from both the Spanish giants in recent months, seemingly gazumping long-term admirers Chelsea without even making an official bid for the pair.

Incumbent manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed he would be leaving at the end of the season during a remarkable press briefing on Monday afternoon. The Chilean said: “I have talked with the club and I will finish my contract on the original date. The club are not doing anything behind me, I knew this one month ago.

“But I don't think it's good to have rumour or speculation, which I why I have told the players and the press.”