Guardiola free for England move, with Ancelotti taking over Bayern in summer

However, United are thought to be competing with Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City for the 44-year-old’s signature. But Guardiola’s team was torn apart by Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid 4-0 in Munich to go out 5-0 on aggregate in the semifinals of the Champions League.

Guardiola has been linked with Van Gaal’s position in recent weeks after it emerged that the Spaniard will step down as Bayern Munich’s manager at the end of the season.

Guardiola, who took over Jupp Heynckes’ treble-winning side in 2013, led Bayern to the Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup that same year, a German league and cup double in 2014, and another Bundesliga title in 2015.

“I am pleased that Carlo will soon take over Bayern as he is an extremely experienced coach – just ask superstars like (Cristiano) Ronaldo”, former Italy coach Trapattoni added according to the same newspaper.

In the same statement, Ancelotti said “it’s an honour for me to be a part of this great club next season”.

They did win the Bundesliga again comfortably, though, and they are on course to make it a hat-trick of domestic league triumphs under Guardiola this season, leading second-placed Dortmund by eight points at the midway stage of the season.

“When I knew of the club’s interest I didn’t want to consider any other offer”.

Rummenigge said he had complete confidence in the new coach.

Ancelotti delivered Madrid’s coveted 10th Champions League title in 2014 – beating Guardiola’s Bayern en route to the final – but the following season produced no trophies and he left in May.

It remains to be seen how the players will react to a lame-duck coach, despite Guardiola’s record and reputation. In the Champions League, the end comes again in the semifinals – Barcelona wins 3-0 at home and Bayern is eliminated by Guardiola’s former team despite a 3-2 win in Germany.

He won three Primera Division titles between 2008 and 2012 having stepped up from coaching the B team, lifting the Spanish Cup and the Champions League twice, having won the league six times and the Champions Cup once as a Barcelona player. Bayern finished the season with the Bundesliga and German Cup titles.