Manuel Pellegrini 'added to list of candidates for Chelsea job'

Chelsea have reportedly added Manuel Pellegrini to their list of managerial candidates following the Chilean's announcement that he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.

The 62-year-old will depart the Etihad Stadium one year before the expiration of his contract in order to make way for the arrival of Pep Guardiola, who will end a three-year spell at Bayern Munich in the summer.

According to the London Evening Standard, Chelsea have turned their attention to Pellegrini and included him in the pool of contenders to become Jose Mourinho's permanent successor.

Mourinho was sacked by the West London outfit in December and was swiftly replaced with Guus Hiddink, who is in temporary charge until the end of the season.

Pellegrini's agent Jesus Martinez has hinted that his client wants to continue working in the Premier League.

"He has spent three wonderful years [at City] and he is crazy about this competition," the publication quotes Martinez as saying. "He will listen and discuss the offers he gets and then will make a decision. Right now he has not had any offers on the table. He is open to all kind of challenges, not just at Chelsea, [Manchester] United or the rest of the big teams."

In his first season in charge at City, Pellegrini guided the team to a Premier League and League Cup double.