Manchester City have reportedly earmarked Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers as the ideal man to replace Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.

Speculation over Guardiola's long-term future has grown in recent days amid reports that the Spaniard has an exit clause in his current deal, rumours which Guardiola himself was quick to deny.

However, the Daily Mail reports that Man City are making contingency plans in case Guardiola does bring an end to his hugely successful spell at the club, with Rodgers at the top of their list.

The Northern Irishman, whose Liverpool side was narrowly pipped to the Premier League title by Man City in 2014, has led Leicester to second place in the table this season, sitting above Guardiola's champions after 17 games of the campaign.

The Foxes have been praised for their style of football during their fine first half of the season, resulting in the club handing Rodgers a new long-term contract until 2025.

Man City's board have been impressed by Rodgers's work and have him as an early front-runner to replace Guardiola, whose current deal expires in 2021.

The report claims that Guardiola's assistant Mikel Arteta and former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino are also on the shortlist as potential replacements.