5 Potential Replacements Should Manchester City Axe Manuel Pellegrini

With Manchester City's season not having gone to plan, there have been strong suggestions their manager, Manuel Pellegrini, may not be in a job at the start of next season.

A run of eight defeats in the 15 matches prior to Sunday's comfortable win over West Ham United was unacceptable and left City's title defence in tatters. Regression is the word that best sums up their season. 

However, the pool of available managers this summer is a shallow one. In fact, it may be so small that the club are reluctant to make a change. Pellegrini has one year left to run on his deal, and the club's board of directors, who have consistently demonstrated their patience, could allow him to see it out. 

It would hardly be a huge surprise if he was sacked, though, given the inertia holding back the squad. If he does leave, here are five possible candidates to replace him.

1. Pep Guardiola

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Much of City's caution in sacking in Pellegrini is thought to centre around the availability of Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola. 

He is likely to be the club's first-choice candidate to replace the Chilean, but his contract with the German champions runs until the summer of 2016. Do City forego their dream appointment and appoint a long-term successor to Pellegrini this summer, or stick with him through the final year of his contract until Guardiola is available?

It seems unlikely he would break his contract and, therefore, isn't an immediate option.

2. Jurgen Klopp

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Jurgen Klopp's decision to leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season, reported by BBC Sport, saw a flurry of speculation about where he could end up. 

Having spent seven years at Dortmund, winning two league titles and securing a Champions League final spot in 2013, he could certainly provide the longevity the City directors crave from their next appointment. 

But this season has been hugely disappointing for Klopp, with his side struggling for much of the campaign. Will City risk taking him on and ending their dream of securing Guardiola?

3. Carlo Ancelotti

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Carlo Ancelotti could well be available this summer if he is sacked by the trigger-happy directors at Real Madrid, and with his European pedigree, he's likely to considered by the City decision-makers. 

Ancelotti is a manager very much in the Pellegrini mould: charming, respectful, committed to an attractive style of football and known for his man-management abilities. 

He could be an outstanding short-term option.

4. Brendan Rodgers

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It's worth remembering Brendan Rodgers inherited a mess from Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, a context that makes the improvements at the Anfield side impressive. 

Rodgers has caught the eye with his tactical flexibility and focus on youth, both of which are qualities likely to appeal to the City hierarchy.

However, he seems somewhat short of what's needed to regularly guide teams to silverware. Liverpool's failure to win the league from a winning position last season and their recent FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa mean he is becoming known as a manager incapable of securing trophies.

5. Rafa Benitez

Felice Calabro'/Associated Press

The outside bet in this list is Rafa Benitez, whose contract with Napoli expires this summer. 

According to Adrian Kajumba of the Mirror, City could move for Benitez on a one-year deal to take them through to when Guardiola becomes available. 

It's surely a nonstarter, though. Benitez's reputation in England outside of Liverpool is a questionable despite his glittering CV, and City fans would be unlikely to be buoyed by his arrival.