Bayern remain favourites to win the race for Guardiola’s signature

Pep Guardiola’s describing the Premier League as “unique”, as part of voicing his desire to one day coach in the English top flight, has done little to influence the betting of which club he will manage when he returns from sabbatical.

Bayern Munich remain favourites to snare the world’s most coveted coach in the summer and can be backed to do so at 1/1.

Despite this being the case, it’s difficult to picture Guardiola’s slim-fit suit and skinny tie prowling the home dugout at the Allianz Arena though, having said that, it’s hard to imagine the man anywhere but Barcelona.

He will be somewhere other than Barcelona from this summer onwards, however, and, if it isn’t Bavaria, the Premier League is, realistically, the only other viable option.

Manchester City are 5/2 to secure Guardiola’s services as a replacement for fiery Italian Roberto Mancini and, with the Citizens continually looking to strengthen their Catalan connection, their hierarchy would have no bones in despatching the coach who brought them the title should he fail to repeat the feat this term.

Their oil-rich owners’ finances know no bounds and, with a huge overhaul in their infrastructure from the grass roots up pencilled in, they seem to have a long-term plan that echoes that of the one employed at Barca.

Guardiola knows this set up like the back of his hand and having him oversee it would be another attribute, in addition to his coaching pedigree, that would cause the City hierarchy to point their cash hose in his direction and drench him in money.

Chelsea are next in the betting at 7/2 and even though Roman Abramovich has courted the Spaniard for years now, it seems unlikely he would choose to ply his trade there.

The Blues can offer all the money that City can, but with Abramovich’s world renowned short temper and tendency to interfere with first team affairs, he’s likely to favour life in Manchester as opposed to west London.

It’s not just the blue half of the city that would tempt Guardiola either. Manchester United can also make a strong case to win over the two-time Champions League winning manager, should he be willing to wait a year or so until Sir Alex Ferguson finally decides to call time on his Red Devils tenure.

At 10/1, they’re a better value price than Chelsea, but it will be the hanging around for Sir Alex to leave that pushes Guardiola towards the Etihad as opposed to Old Trafford, should he opt for the Premier League over Germany this summer.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date