Guardiola leaving Bayern - reports

Pep Guardiola, strongly linked to a move to the Premier League, has told Bayern Munich he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, German media reported on Thursday.

The Spaniard's three-year contract expires next June and Bayern's head coach has said he will announce "before Christmas" whether he will extend his stay or leave, with Manchester City among the English sides keen to secure his services.

According to German daily Bild, Guardiola gave his decision to Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge last week amid reports from Spain suggested Carlo Ancelotti was poised to replace him.

"Everything points to his leaving," the paper added, while suggesting his departure was "an open secret."

The 44-year-old Catalan is in his third year at the helm of the Bavarian giant.

Last month Rummenigge indicated that talks on his future would begin after Dec 19 "to avoid any Christmas surprise, one way or the other."

Barcelona daily Sport claimed a month ago that Guardiola had already given his word to former Barca colleagues Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain, now Manchester City's chief executive and director of soccer respectively, that he would join them at Etihad stadium next season.

Bild suggested Guardiola was alive to the danger of out-staying his welcome if he remained at Bayern.

"He is someone who enjoys a challenge. That's the reason why he joined Bayern in 2013," the paper said.

(China Daily 12/19/2015 page11)