Ronald Koeman Open to Manchester City Contact, Wants Barcelona Job

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has signalled he is open to replacing Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City by saying the club's director of football has his telephone number. However, the Barcelona legend admits he would be "delighted" to one day take over at the Camp Nou.

Koeman has won the plaudits of many this season, leading Southampton into a race for Champions League qualification after a summer exodus saw the club sell Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren to Liverpool, not to mention Luke Shaw to Manchester United.

He is ready to move on in the future, though, as reported by Cadena COPE (h/t Liam Twomey of Goal.com): "The entire world knows what I have with Barcelona and what Barcelona have with Ronald Koeman, so if I could become Barcelona coach one day, I would be delighted."

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Koeman then discussed City, saying: "I am friends with (director of football) Txiki (Begiristain), there is contact with him and he has my telephone number."

Pellegrini continues to come under major pressure after a disappointing run with City. The Premier League champions are six points behind leaders Chelsea, who have a game in-hand. They also failed to make an impression on the FA Cup and Capital One Cup, but perhaps most importantly, they currently stand on the brink of elimination from the Champions League.

Wednesday's tie with Barcelona sees City travel to the Camp Nou looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit. They must score two goals no matter what to have any chance of going through.

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Barca last conceded two at home to Villarreal on Feb. 1, with Valencia the last team to net three exactly one year before, per Soccerway. Luis Enrique's men have only failed to score in front of their fans on two occasions this season.

B/R UK's Rob Pollard believes there are reasons for City to be hopeful, however:

Rob Harris of the Associated Press (h/t Yahoo) suggested the damage is already done for Pellegrini: "With the Premier League trophy being so meekly surrendered and a season without silverware looming, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini cannot grumble if the club's hierarchy already has his replacement lined up."

Koeman's Saints are just six points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, having won 15 and drawn five of their 29 Premier League matches this season, per WhoScored.com. Southampton possess the division's best defence, conceding just 21 in this time.

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This solid foundation is something City could have used during the recent loss to Burnley, which saw Sean Dyche's men easily find space between Pellegrini's back four. Koeman has adapted brilliantly during his first season in the Premier League, and he could eventually be rewarded with an elite job.

Considering his Dutch enemy Louis van Gaal is currently in charge of City's local rivals United, such an appointment would certainly galvanise emotion around the Manchester derby.