Such is the life of a Premier League manager, less than 12 months after guiding Manchester City to a league and cup double, Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly on the brink of being shown the Etihad exit.

Whichever way you look at it, things are extremely bleak for City supporters at this moment in time. Eight defeats in their last 14 outings, including a 4-2 reverse at arch-rivals Manchester United at the weekend, has left the fallen champions looking over their shoulders in the hope of holding onto a top-four spot in the closing weeks of the campaign.

The Chilean claimed after the potentially costly defeat at Old Trafford that he is not thinking about his future at the club, and will instead focus on each game as it comes.

With a season of no silverware for Pellegrini now a reality, Sports Mole takes a look at five possible replacements should the Citizens opt to swing the axe this summer.

1. Patrick Vieira

The latest name to be linked with the Etihad hot seat is a man who knows the Sky Blues well, having spent the past four years working in a coaching role at the club. Vieira is said to be interested in stepping in for the remainder of the season should City chiefs take drastic action prior to the summer, with his work at elite development squad level (the reserves, to you and me) impressing those in charge.

Of course, taking on someone with very limited managerial experience may not be so successful in the long term, particularly as the Frenchman's success with the youth side has hardly set the world alight. However, the Citizens have made no secret of the fact that they would like to build a philosophy in the coming seasons which truly defines them.

Pep Guardiola, for example, took the Barcelona reins with limited past experience before going on to create one of the greatest club sides in history. By appointing an in-house name, City chiefs would send out a clear message that they are focusing on building a settled side with a clear gameplan in mind for the future.

2. Diego Simeone

The success achieved by Simeone over the past two seasons at Atletico Madrid is nothing short of extraordinary. Coming within just a few seconds of winning the Champions League is one thing, but to break apart the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly to lift the La Liga title is another matter entirely.

Atleti may find themselves nine points off the pace domestically this time around, but that does not take the shine off Simeone's incredible achievements. He may have committed his future to the Vicente Calderon club earlier this year when talk of a switch to the Premier League first emerged, but that will not stop interest from some of European football's biggest names from showing interest.

The key to the Argentinian's triumphant spell in management to date is the ability to get every last ounce of blood and sweat out of each of his players. This, you feel, could be a crucial ingredient if City are to bounce back next season in order to reach the levels they have previously set.

3. Carlo Ancelotti

While Simeone may be good at getting the best out of unmotivated players, there really is nobody better in world football at doing so than Real Madrid boss Ancelotti, who has bags of experience when it comes to taking charge of big-name players. More importantly, the Italian has enjoyed success wherever he has been, including his two years in England when he lifted the FA Cup and Premier League title with Chelsea.

Surprisingly, Ancelotti has barely been linked with the Man City job, although one report emerged last month suggesting that the 55-year-old is very much on the club's radar. A fantastic man-manager, the 55-year-old has won trophies all over the continent, including most recently at superstar sides Paris Saint-Germain and Madrid.

He was the man who guided Los Blancos to that much-coveted La Decima last season, yet even that may not be enough for him to keep hold of his job should the Spanish outfit miss out on the trophy once more. If Ancelotti was to be sacked this summer, with Madrid looking for another change of direction, then he will surely send heartbeats racing a little faster in the Manchester area.

4. Jurgen Klopp

These are testing times for the much-respected Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, following what has been a truly terrible campaign. The 2012 Bundesliga winners have endured a season which for so long was plagued by relegation fears, yet not once did the former Mainz 05 coach's job look in any doubt.

That says a lot about the previous success enjoyed by the German during his seven years at the Westfalenstadion more than anything, but maybe a change could soon be on the cards. Having cast an envious glance at another rumoured City-target in Guardiola at Bayern, and the vast amounts of money afforded to his opposite number in the dugout, Klopp would be able to build a title-challenging squad at Eastlands from nothing if means be.

On the face of it, plucking a manager from a team sitting firmly in midtable in the Bundesliga to take over another side experiencing difficulties does seem rather strange, but it may just be a risk worth taking if the Citizens are to find their mojo once more.

5. Frank de Boer

Arguably the most left-of-field options of them all, De Boer has admitted this term that he would be "open" to a switch to the Premier League sometime in the near future. Having previously been linked with the Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and, most recently of all, Newcastle United jobs in recent times, the Ajax boss is clearly a man in demand.

It is no surprise, either, with the Dutchman having won four back-to-back Eredivisie crowns during his trophy-laden stint at Ajax. The title appears to be out of reach this time around, though, which may suggest a good time for the former Barcelona star to pack his bags and start a new challenge elsewhere.

Southampton reaped the rewards of appointing a manager cut from the same cloth as De Boer in the form of Ronald Koeman, and with City director of football Txiki Begiristain having worked with the likes of Frank Rijkaard and Louis van Gaal in the past, this may just be the most logical replacement should Pellegrini be handed his P45.