Manchester calling: Pep Guardiola makes himself available for English sojourn

The 44-year-old is in his third year at the helm of the Bavarian giants, and his contract expires next June.

New Delhi: Hugely successful manager Pep Guardiola has suddenly became the object of affection in England after the Spaniard reportedly revealed that he is not renewing the Bayern Munich contract on Thursday.

German media today made the sensational claimed that the former Barcelona manager will announce "before Christmas" whether he will extend his stay or leave at the Bavarian club even as interests from English clubs increase with each passing day.

In between, English media today ran stories linking both the Manchester clubs to the Catalan manager, with City touted as the favourites. City are doing relatively better in comparison to their most celebrated neighbours, but if opportunity presents they will have no qualms removing Manuel Pellegrini to have the services of Pep.

Meanwhile, United's fortunes have also plunged in recent weeks. They have exited the Champions League, then seemed to have lost the domestic league plot from a vantage point. Louis van Gaal's side are now in the fourth place, having endured three win-less outing - including a shocking 1-2 defeat at Bournemouth. And the Dutchman is likely to replaced sooner than later.

If at all, Pep arrives in England, it will be a re-union of old foes along with Chelsea's Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese, unlike the other two Manchester managers, is expected to keep his place despite a shambolic title defence campaign, where they now lie just above the relegation zone, thanks to a one-point difference.

Pep and Jose have had a storied rivalry in Spain, when in charge of the Clasico rivals.