Pep Guardiola could take over as Qatar’s coach for the 2022 World Cup, according to reports in Germany.

The former Barcelona manager’s Bayern Munich side were held to a 1-1 home draw against Schalke on Tuesday night but maintained an eight-point lead over their closest challengers Wolfsburg at the top of the Bundesliga.

Guardiola signed a three-year contract with Bayern when he joined in 2013 and with a new deal yet to be agreed at the Allianz Arena, the German newspaper Sport Bild dedicated its front page on Wednesday to speculation that he could be tempted by a lucrative deal with the 2022 World Cup hosts.

The 44-year-old spent two seasons at the end of his playing career at Qatar Stars League side Al-Ahli and the paper believes he retains strong links with the country having also been an ambassador for their successful 2022 World Cup bid.

For the fifth successive season, Bayern spent last month’s winter break in Doha and Guardiola was in no doubt when asked whether the World Cup would be a success in the Middle East.

“The people in Qatar have to help the country to make the event the best that is possible. The world will be watching and I hope the people here can help out to show the world that they are capable of hosting the biggest event in football,” he said.

“Fifa has always tried to look for new areas to promote the sport. They went to South Africa in 2010 and in 2022 they have decided to come here. It’s a good step to come to this part of the world. It will help the rest of the world to know this part. Football at the end is a great opportunity to meet different cultures.”

Guardiola has also expressed an interest in managing in the Premier League one day, telling Martí Perarnau, author of Herr Pep – the account of his first year in charge at Bayern – that it is his intention to “pass through England starting from Bayern and culminate in a national team.”