Pep Guardiola was back in Barcelona on Sunday night as he considers the next move in his career, with the Premier League his probable destination after it was announced he will be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season. Manchester City are in the strongest position but a final decision has not yet been made and there has been significant interest from a wide range of clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as the French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

A decision is not expected imminently but what is now known is Guardiola will not be continuing at Bayern. The 44-year-old had said things would be “clearer” by this weekend and Bayern announced on Sunday he will leave in the summer. That was swiftly followed by the confirmation Carlo Ancelotti would be his replacement in Munich. Ancelotti, who described the chance to coach the German champions as an “honour”, could be presented on Monday. Guardiola has not yet made any statement.

Pep Guardiola’s departure at end of season confirmed by Bayern Munich Read more

With the Bundesliga breaking for the winter, Guardiola flew to Catalonia to spend Christmas with his family, where he will have time to think carefully about the proposals that have been placed before him, all of which are attractive. Something of a casting process has opened up, as clubs seek to convince him. No deadline has been set for a decision, although it is not expected to extend much beyond the end of January.

Guardiola was determined to make the decision in what he considers the right order, deciding on and announcing his departure before choosing where he goes next. He will not speak until he returns to Munich in early January but there is no guarantee a decision will have been taken by that stage. Bayern’s chief executive, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, said he was convinced Guardiola’s departure will only reinforce the club’s determination this season.

Manchester City, whose sporting director, Txiki Beguiristain, worked with Guardiola at Barcelona and whose chief executive is the former Barcelona director Ferrán Soriano, are the best placed at the moment and there is a fear among some of his suitors that he has already chosen the Etihad.

City’s manager, Manuel Pellegrini, hinted at that when he said: “I am sure Guardiola will work here some day. I even hope he will have the opportunity to work at Manchester City too because I love this club and I care about its future and I am sure he would do a good job.”

Pellegrini added: “When is the future I don’t know but if the future turns out to be next year the most important thing for me to do is to try to win the title again.”

Some of the other clubs pursuing Guardiola recognise the difficulties in landing him but while his future is unconfirmed they will continue to try to win him over. Promises have been made and projects presented. Wherever he chooses, his salary will be huge and he will be given the authority to work as he wishes and there is much to attract him to suitors beyond City.

Hard Premier League slog would take Pep Guardiola into the unknown | Jonathan Wilson Read more

He has friends at Chelsea and Arsenal and London is a factor. The departure of José Mourinho means Chelsea have a vacancy in the long term, with Guus Hiddink taking over on an interim basis. Roman Abramovich has long been an admirer of Guardiola and much has been made of the Chelsea owner’s desire to forge not only a winning team but an attractive one.

United have not given up hope of convincing Guardiola though they have been saying they are happy to stick with Louis van Gaal and are waiting for a clear signal of the Spaniard’s intentions.

The desire to convince him to move to Old Trafford can only have been heightened by the pressure building on Van Gaal who admitted after the home defeat by Norwich he is concerned about the possibility of being sacked. For Guardiola, United’s status, size and history are significant attractions.Guardiola will leave Bayern with at least five trophies to his name, including two consecutive Bundesliga titles. A third is likely to follow. So far, though, the Champions League has evaded him. “We are grateful to Pep Guardiola for everything he has given our club since 2013,” Rummenigge said. .