Coral rate PL ‘big four’ teams’ chances of luring Pep Guardiola
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | January 5, 2016
Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola has finally announced the much expected news that the Premier League would be his favoured next move in management, after he leaves the German giants in the summer.
“The reason I have not extended my contract is simple: I want to manage in the Premier League,” Guardiola said. “I think I am young enough. I need a new challenge. My career is a long way from over.
“I have some offers from the Premier League, but I have not committed myself yet. I am very grateful to Bayern for the trust they’ve shown in me. When I have a new club, the club will communicate that. At the moment, I can’t say anything else because nothing is fixed.”
Pep Guardiola in England!
Next club odds:
Man City 1/4
Chelsea 3/1
United 6/1
Arsenal 8/1
https://t.co/w6M3b4yz4z pic.twitter.com/o92lif63hP
— Coral (@Coral) January 5, 2016
Having highly impressed in his native Catalonia with La Liga outfit Barcelona, winning numerous silverware in just over two years with Bundesliga club Bayern, the natural next move is the test himself in the Premier League.
So, in light of Guardiola’s comments, Coral writers go through the supposed ‘big four’ clubs in England and rate their chances of getting the 44-year-old.
Arsenal
As things stand, Guardiola wouldn’t get the Gunners job as a result of current coach Arsene Wenger getting sacked, as they are top of the league by two points.
However, with the Frenchman not getting any younger, he could finally call it a day at the end of the season and retire on a high if his side go on to win the title.
The north Londoners’ style would certainly suit the Spaniard more than any other in Premier League, but he is only rated at 8/1 to be end up at the Emirates next summer.
Chance of becoming Arsenal boss: 7/10
Chelsea
The Blues have heavily struggled this term under now-former manager Jose Mourinho, and what better way to get one over his former nemesis in La Liga than to show how things should be done and clear up the mess?
One slight issue is that with Chelsea way down in 14th place in the table and 13 points off the top four, meaning their chances of Champions League or even Europa League football are very slim.
Would Guardiola want to manage a club, currently under Guus Hiddink, without European competition? Highly unlikely, though he is still 3/1 (second-favourite) to go there next.
Chance of becoming Chelsea boss: 2/10
Manchester City
Guardiola is heavily odds-on at 1/4 for his next club to be Man City, but with the club doing reasonably well so far this term, being three points off the top of the table and in the last 16 of the Champions League, would the Citizens be so foolish to offload Manuel Pellegrini?
The Chilean head coach, though, has rather bizarrely stated recently that the Spaniard would be a great choice to succeed him, though it was unclear if he meant as recently as this summer.
Man City do have connections that could help lure Guardiola to the Etihad too, as current club CEO Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain both worked with him at Barca – the latter was also a former teammate.
Going by Guardiola’s choice of teams to manage so far, though, would the Citizens be the right fit?
Chance of becoming Man City boss: 5/10
Manchester United
Rated as 6/1 chances to be Guardiola’s next club, Man Utd certainly represent the most value for money in this market, as their current boss Louis van Gaal is heavily under pressure following a dire run of form.
The Dutchman could stay on until the end of the season, as it seems the Red Devils’ hierarchy have chosen not to approach Mourinho in favour of swooping for the ex-Barca manager.
One downside about taking over at Old Trafford, is that they don’t have the talent that was left to David Moyes after Sir Alex Ferguson retired, as Van Gaal seems to have sold most of them.
Still, there would be plenty of money to spend, and Guardiola could mould his own squad, and would be reunited with out-of-favour keeper Victor Valdes as well as fellow Spaniards David de Gea, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera.
Chance of becoming Man Utd boss: 8/10
So, after going through the above four clubs, we believe that it would be a relatively two-horse race between Man Utd and Arsenal to snap up Guardiola next, depending on a number of circumstances. Those two teams certainly have profitable prices.
Other clubs in the market available include PSG (25/1), Barcelona again (28/1), Tottenham (40/1) and Juventus (50/1).
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