Valencia identify Man City boss Pellegrini as No.1 choice to replace Neville

Valencia have lined up Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini as the No.1 candidate to replace the sacked Gary Neville, Goal understands.

It was revealed in February that Pellegrini will leave the Etihad Stadium to make way for Pep Guardiola when his contract expires in June, although there remains a very real possibility that he could yet lose his job before the end of the season, should City’s Premier League slump continue.

That has not dissuaded Valencia, though, and the club still see the Chilean as the ideal candidate to take over from Neville, who was sacked on Wednesday after collecting just three wins from 16 league games in less than four months in charge.

Suso Garcia Pitarch, sporting director at Mestalla, had already met with Pellegrini’s agent as the struggling Primera Division club planned for life next season, in the knowledge that Neville would not be a long-term fixture.

Pellegrini still owns a house in Valencia from his time managing Villarreal and it has long been suspected around City's Etihad Campus training ground that he is open to returning to Spanish football with los Che this summer.

There are a number of obstacles to overcome before a deal can be completed, however, with the veteran manager said to be averse to taking over a squad as youthful as the one in place at Valencia – something which will no doubt raise a wry smile among a section of the City support.

And Pellegrini, who has repeatedly praised the working environment at the Etihad, particularly in comparison with his tumultuous season at Real Madrid, would also like to have considerable say in major decisions taken by the club.

Peter Lim, who assumed control at Mestalla in October 2014, has developed a close relationship with super-agent Jorge Mendes in recent years and many of the club’s transfers in the last 18 months have been facilitated by the Portuguese.

Pellegrini, who has also been offered a contract by Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, is thought to be keeping his options open, and is keen to stay in England when his association with City comes to an end.

But it appears there will be no opportunity to do so, with Chelsea, who had earlier shown an interest in the veteran coach, set to appoint Antonio Conte.

Pellegrini's immediate future is just as uncertain, with City currently sitting fourth in the Premier League table, just one point above West Ham and two ahead of rivals United, having won just one of their last six matches.

That is a run that has alarmed decision makers at the Etihad and Pellegrini could be shown the door before the end of the season, with Saturday’s game against Bournemouth seen as crucial ahead of next week’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Valencia, meanwhile, will entrust their short-term future to interim coach Pako Ayestaran, who has replaced Neville until the end of the season.