Incoming City boss Pellegrini finally admits he could be on his way to the Etihad

Manuel Pellegrini has admitted for the first time that moving to Manchester City ‘is an option’ this summer.

The Chilean, who will replace Roberto Mancini at the Etihad Stadium, has remained cagey about his imminent appointment as he concludes the La Liga season with Malaga.

The 59-year-old delivered his farewells to the Malaga crowd on Sunday night after leading them to a 3-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna in their final home game of the season.

Farewell: Malaga played their final home game of the season on Sunday as Manuel Pellegrini prepares to leave

Pellegrini has consistently refused to confirm that he is on his way to City but has at last conceded that may be his destination.

Last night he told Sky Italia: ‘I am lucky to have good options and Manchester City is an option.’

Pellegrini's achievements in the Champions League, where he took Malaga to the quarter-finals this season and Villarreal to the last four previously, attracted the attention of City.

Mancini failed to guide his side out of the group stages but was drawn with Real Madrid, finalists Borussia Dortmund and Ajax

High note: Manchester City completed the double over Chelsea in their friendlies last week

Speaking on the club’s recent tour of the USA, City chief executive Ferran Soriano confirmed they would be targeting five trophies in the next five years under their new boss.

He also did nothing to play down the speculation linking them with the Chilean.

'I think the boxes are right. You know what we want,' said Soriano. 'The analysis of the candidates goes beyond the results that we can see.

'Age is not relevant at this point, but with the kind of squad we have, we want a senior manager.

'We want a manager who knows about football but we want somebody who knows about man management and this is something we are convinced about, that it is impossible for us to win the Champions League if we don’t have a group that behaves like a family.'

Taking over: Brian Kidd is in charge of City as they wait to appoint Pellegrini to replace Roberto Mancini

.

Picky Pellegrini: Manchester City target Manuel admits he's considering Etihad job

'I'm fortunate to have some very good options and Manchester City is one of them,' said Chilean coach

The Manu for the job? Pellegrini is considering the City hotseat

Manuel Pellegrini believes he can meet Manchester City's lofty demands after declaring he is leaving Malaga to "fulfil his sporting ambitions".

City chief executive Ferran Soriano claims Pellegrini will be expected to win a trophy every season when he is officially named as Roberto Mancini's successor at Eastlands.

Pellegrini, 59, remained coy about City when quizzed after his last home game with Malaga, but is excited about the opportunity to win the game's top prizes.

The Chilean feels he was denied that chance at Real Madrid because of the interference of president Florentino Perez, who sacked him in 2010 after one trophyless season in charge.

"I'm fortunate to have some very good options and Manchester City is one of them," he said.

Despite Pellegrini's reticence, City hope to confirm him as their new manager within the next seven days.

The Blues must wait for Malaga to finish their La Liga campaign - the Spanish side beat Deportivo la Coruna 3-1 in their final home game on Sunday and finish away to Champions Barcelona on Saturday.

Malaga are sixth, good enough for a Europa League place if they can overturn their European ban, and Pellegrini feels he is leaving them on a high.

"You cannot ask for a better farewell," said the former Villarreal boss. "I wanted to leave here winning, and that's what I've done. I leave here with the team in Europe for the second successive season. I'm going to remember this for a long time.

"Our goal was to be in Europe because this club deserves it. It's been a historic two-and-a-half years here. There have been days that I will never forget."

Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-city-target-manuel-pellegrini-1915376#ixzz2UXSR1o7t

Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook

Isco Keen To Follow Manuel Pellegrini To Man City

Spanish starlet wants to continue working with Pellegrini.

Malaga playmaker Isco has confessed that he would be keen to follow Manuel Pellegrini to wherever he ends up and continue working with him, Sky Sports reports.

Pellegrini will leave the Spanish side at the end of the week when the La Liga season finally wraps up and he is fully expected to take the vacant position at Manchester City and there has been a number of clubs linked with the 21-year-old too.

However, whilst Isco has given no indications over where he may end up next season, he has hinted that he would be happy to continue working under Pellegrini.

“He’s been my footballing father and I know that he likes me and, for me, of course I would like to continue with him because he’s given me all the confidence in the world,” he told reporters whilst on duty with the Spain Under-21 squad on Monday.

Isco also admitted that he won’t rush into making any rash decisions concerning his future as he hopes to keep developing at the rate that he has.

“It’s a very important decision for me and I don’t want to get it wrong.

“I have doubts because I want to play, wherever it is, and that’s the most important thing. I don’t want to regret it after not getting many minutes.”

He added: “I’m not closing my door to anyone but my priority is to play and I don’t want to be on the bench. We’ll see what happens in the summer.”

Man City: Isco wants to follow 'football father' Manuel Pellegrini

Spain midfielder Isco has suggested a move to Manchester City is possible after he spoke of his desire to follow Manuel Pellegrini out of Malaga.

Pellegrini, 59, is widely expected to succeed Roberto Mancini as City manager after the Italian was sacked on 14 May.

Isco, 21, was signed by Pellegrini from Valencia in 2011 and wants to play under the Chilean again next season.

He said: "He's been my footballing father and I know that he likes me. Of course I'd like to continue with him."

Isco, who made his full international debut for Spain against Uruguary in February, signed a new contract with Malaga at the beginning of the year, which includes a £30m buy-out clause.

But the playmaker also suggested regular first-team football would be uppermost in his thinking when he decides where he will play next season.

"It's a very important decision for me and I don't want to get it wrong," Isco said.

"I want to play, wherever it is, and that's the most important thing. I don't want to regret it after not getting many minutes.

"I'm not closing my door to anyone but my priority is to play and I don't want to be on the bench. We'll see what happens in the summer."

Aguero's holiday snaps: See Man City star try basketball, baseball, and look out over New York from up high

Even though many people criticised Manchester City and Chelsea for going on a post-season tour of America after tiring campaigns, it seems Sergio Aguero still had fun.

The Argentina striker posted this album on his Facebook account, depicting what he got up to in the Big Apple.

He used the the time to turn his hands (literally) to other sports - practising his baseball swing and basketball shots.

Change of scene: Sergio Aguero practises his baseball swing while in New York

Shooting some b-ball: Aguero was a dab hand as he took to the basketball court

Aguero also posted pictures of him looking out over the New York skyline and Central Park, including standing in tourist hotspot Times Square.

It wasn't just a trip to see the sights though - City played Chelsea twice and won both times in St Louis and New York - 4-3 and 5-3 respectively.

While in America the club announced their investment in a new New York ‘sister club’ in Major League Soccer.

And with the revelation that the New York Yankees became involved in talks to be financial stakeholders in New York City FC only in the past fortnight, questions are being asked about just why City have bought into football in America.

New York Times sports business reporter Ken Belson, who revealed the Yankees’ purchase of a quarter share in NYCFC for just $25million, believes City need the Yankees more than vice-versa — hence the relatively low investment by the baseball giants.

What the Yankees will give City is access to their political connections, especially as they search for a site for a $300m stadium.

Tourist: Aguero poses in front of a bridge, and (below) with Javi Garcia and Pablo Zabaleta in Times Square

Belson said: ‘You won’t get a better politically connected and more sport-savvy organisation than the Yankees. When senior officials need to make the case for things to happen for NYCFC, it won’t be City people doing it. The Yankees have very good connections at City Hall.’

Claudio Reyna, the former Manchester City captain who has been appointed NYCFC director of football, says the new club will not be able to use City’s stars.

Obviously City will be focused on winning the Premier League and the Champions League, so they won’t be offering us their top players,’ said Reyna.

‘But we can use their promising youngsters for our team and also to help develop them for City. Also we’ll be using City’s scouting system so that when they are looking for a left back in Serie A or the Bundesliga they could also see someone suitable for us. We will be tapping into all City’s resources.’

Looking down: The view of the New York skyline

Chilling out: Aguero rests and takes in the view from down by the Brooklyn Bridge

Hometime: Aguero and Co have now left America and are on their summer holiday