Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola 'signs contract to take over at Manchester City' - reports

Speculation over Guardiola’s future plans have made headlines for months now, with the Catalan refusing to so far extend his contract at Bayern, which expires at the end of the season.

And now prominent Spanish radio station Cadena COPE says Guardiola wants a “change of scenery” and will move to the Premier League, and specifically Manchester City.

[PAPER ROUND: City to offer £800,000-per week for Lionel Messi]

[BEST TWEETS:

“Pep Guardiola will leave Bayern Munich at the end of this season and will train Manchester City next season,” read the report.

“Guardiola has decided on a change of scenery. He considers his time in Germany will end on 30 June after three seasons and he will, therefore, fulfil one of his wishes: to coach in England.”

UPDATE: Bayern Munich have announced that Guardiola will not attend his weekly press conference ahead of the Bundesliga match against Hertha Berlin due to a "private appointment".

Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo goes one step further than Cadena COPE, suggesting that Guardiola signed a contract with City on Thursday in the wake of a preliminary agreement being in place as early as October.

The paper highlights the links between City and Guardiola’s old contacts at Barcelona, with City sporting director Txiki Begiristain and CEO Ferran Soriano both part of the Camp Nou hierarchy back when Guardiola won 14 trophies in four seasons between 2008 and 2012.

Some of Bayern’s most important officials have previously expressed confidence that Guardiola, who is seeking to win his third successive Bundesliga title, will stay at the club.

But there was a softening in the stance of chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge this week, as he said Bayern would be able to replace Guardiola if the former Barcelona coach did decide to leave.

The final decision is expected to be made after the Bundesliga match against Hannover on December 19.

“It is not planned to push back that date,” said Rummenigge. “We have always said there will be a decision in 2015. I know that it’s late, just days before Christmas. But the talks will be held after the Hannover match, and we’ll then announce a decision.

“It always continues. There is no person in this world who can’t be replaced at some point. That’s the state of things. Players come, players go, and the same applies to coaches. They come and they go at one point.”

A cottage industry has sprung up for stories about Pep Guardiola's future and barely a day goes by without someone purporting to offer fresh insight.

But something about this smells right. Two independent Spanish sources are both reporting the decision has been made - and, moreover, that a contract has been signed. Rummenigge's words also suggest that Bayern have already started the process of preparing the ground for the announcement that he will leave.

City fans: you have our permission to start getting excited...