Guardiola’s future in Bavaria is the subject of constant speculation and reports suggest he remains the number one choice of the City powerbrokers Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano, both of whom worked with Guardiola at Barcelona, should Manuel Pellegrini leave the club.

Guardiola’s falling out with Bayern doctor Hans-Wilhelm Mueller Wohlfahrt only increased the debate over whether he will stay with Bayern for a third season, as dictated by his contract, or seek a new challenge at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

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But following an emphatic 6-1 win over Porto in the second leg of Bayern’s quarter-final, Rummenigge appears to feel City would be a step down for the most coveted coach in football.

"I don't worry about the rumour," the German champions' chairman told Bild. "It's just proof of his quality.

"But I can't imagine that Guardiola leaves for a club like Manchester City. I am sure that he will be team manager at Bayern at least until June 30, 2016.

"We are very proud that this coach is our man. He is the best and most sought-after coach in the world. He has satisfied all our expectations.

"We have a plan: We will bring this season to an end and then talk in the second half of 2015.

"Our goal is to extend his contract. And I think we have good chances that he will still be our coach beyond 2016."

OUR VIEW

The rumour mill around Pep Guardiola is a cottage industry of its own but the Bayern project has always been cast as a three-year plan and he is surely likely to stay. Bayern have a brilliant squad capable of challenging for the Champions League next season, and could even do so as reigning champions, while City need a complete makeover. It's not the desired brief for Guardiola. Rather let someone else do the hard work and then maybe come to City in a year.

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