Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is being considered as a permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, according to reports from Spain.

The 62-year-old's future at the Etihad has been called into question recently amid rumours that the City hierarchy are planning to approach departing Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola about taking over in the summer.

Now Blues owner Roman Abramovich is mulling bringing Pellegrini to London once interim manager Guus Hiddink leaves Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and has already made initial contact with the Argentine, according to Radio COPE.

Commenting on the rumours yesterday, Pellegrini said of Guardiola: "I hope he will have the option to work at Manchester City. I say that because I love this club and I hope, in the future, he can work here also. I am sure that he will be very important for the club.

"A lot of things will happen in the future. But when is the future? You never know. It might be next year."

City won the league title and the League Cup in Pellegrini's first season in charge in 2013-14.