Exclusive: Man City's Pellegrini top man for Chile with Chelsea target Sampaoli on way out

CHILE will target Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini if Copa America winning manager Jorge Sampaoli carries out his threat to quit.

 

Manuel Pellegrini is set to depart Manchester City this summer with Pep Guardiola heavily linked

 

Sampaoli who had talks with Swansea City after Garry Monk was sacked led Chile to victory in last summer’s Copa America, the first big tournament the country has landed in their history.

But since then there has been a fall out between the Chilean FA and Sampaoli, with the 55-year-old who is also on Chelsea’s short list to become Jose Mourinho’s long term successor, anxious to leave.

Sampaoli can’t afford to quit without the agreement of his employers because under the terms of his contract which runs until 2018 he would be liable to pay back around £4 million.

Now Sampaoli is hoping to work out a compromise which would free him up for talks with interested clubs in this country which still include Swansea and Chelsea.

 

If he leaves then Etihad boss Pellegrini would top the list of replacements – especially in the knowledge that he is likely to make way for Pep Guardiola in the summer.

Pellegrini has indicated that if he lost the Manchester City job he would be open to offers to manage another Premier League club.

The chance of managing his own country though would also appeal to the 62-year-old.

Meanwhile Sampaoli fancies a move to the Premier League, especially to Chelsea where he finds himself on owner Roman Abramovich’s wanted list along with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone.