Coral’s Rumour Reel: Man Utd, Man City in manager madness

Holly Thackeray | December 21, 2015

Pellegrini in Chelsea picture

The Premier League managerial merry-go-round looks set to take off just in time for Christmas, with Pep Guardiola’s decision not to re-sign on the dotted line with Bayern Munich sending plenty of clubs into a spin.

Usual suspects Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Ligue 1 giants PSG are said to be forming a not-so-orderly queue for the Catalan coach, but the Sky Blues are already believed to have won the scramble for his signature.

In a twist, if Guardiola opts for the Etihad, the Blues are then said to be considering recruiting potentially ousted City boss Manuel Pellegrini as the permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, with Guus Hiddink still tipped to be a temporary option.

Though, in a more surprising rumour, Chelsea playing legend Didier Drogba may return to the capital club as a coach, with a view to being positioned to take over the reins of the top job one day.

While, links between mercurial manager Mourinho and Man Utd are gathering pace, with the Portuguese’s one-time mentor Louis van Gaal looking like an increasingly lame duck. Rumour has it a Boxing Day battle with Stoke City could be the Dutchman’s last throw of the dice, with ‘The Special One’ set to step in.

Mahrez on the move to Mancunia?

Leicester City’s man of the moment Riyad Mahrez is back in the tabloid tattle, with the Red Devils readying around £29m for the flying Foxes winger in January. Though, the Algeria international might want to think twice about transferring to Old Trafford, as current coach Ranieri spoke of his side’s title chances.