[Steal the Man] Barcelona to steal Pellegrini from City?

Despite most of Tuesday's headlines proclaiming that Pellegrini's move to City is a done deal, several reports claim there is major doubt as to whether they will be able to bring in the Malaga boss, who is a 2-9 favourite with bookies to get the gig.

Pellegrini not landing at the Etihad Stadium would be a minor disaster for Fleet Street given how many hours they've invested in dredging up information about him.

The Daily Mirror has gone to town with their "in-depth profile of the man who is set to be City boss".

Yet their feature, rather amusingly, sits on their website right next to Pellegrini's denial that he is coming to England: "Manuel 'categorically' denies that he will be new Manchester City manager'."

Now as much as Pellegrini would probably like to come to a club that's in the business of buying talent rather than flogging it off - as cash-strapped Malaga have been doing for some time - he won't be making any hasty decisions just yet, because two other huge job offers are coming his way.

The Times reports that Napoli and Barcelona are both keen on the 59-year-old, with Barca increasingly likely to need a new boss due to the tragic health worries of their current coach.

Barcelona want to be informed of anything happening with Pellegrini, "because of continuing uncertainty over Tito Vilanova’s ability to continue as coach in light of his battle with cancer," the paper reports.

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Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini remains the overwhelming favourite to succeed Roberto Mancini as Manchester City manager.

The Chilean has been heavily linked with the Premier League club since the weekend, when rumours of Mancini’s imminent demise began to surface.

After three days of intense speculation, City finally confirmed Mancini had been sacked after three and a half years in charge at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night.

With a game at Reading to be played in the evening there has been no further comment from the club with regards to their search for a successor or any other issues.

But having placed assistant manager Brian Kidd in interim charge for the final games of the season against Reading and Norwich and next week’s United States tour, there may be no immediate rush.

Pellegrini has denied suggestions he has a deal in place with City but will leave Malaga after the Spanish season ends on June 1.

The 59-year-old has also been linked with other clubs but is odds on to take charge next at Eastlands with other candidates such as Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Brendan Rodgers considered outsiders.

Former City manager Brian Horton would expect some of the game’s biggest names to be in contention with the club having now established themselves at the top end of the Premier League.

Horton, who was in charge at Maine Road from 1993-95, told Press Association Sport: “With Brian Kidd taking the reins it maybe gives them a bit more time to see who there is or if Pellegrini comes.

“I’m sure they’ll get lots of big names linked with it if it is left for a couple of weeks.

“They are one of the big clubs in the world now.

“In my book Mourinho would be fantastic, if City could get him, but I don’t know – Pellegrini is the name being linked.

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