Rafa Benitez favourite to replace Pellegrini at Man City if club's Abu Dhabi owners decide to sack Chilean

Liverpool great Rafa Benitez is reportedly the favourite to replace Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City if the club's Abu Dhabi owners decide to sack the Chilean this summer, as the defending champions struggle in the Premier League title race.

Moreover, Pellegrini is reportedly himself involved in speculation that he might replace Benitez as Napoli manager when the Spaniard exits the Italian club at the end of the season.

Pellegrini's position has been plunged into doubt after trailing Chelsea in the Premier League title race and facing a must-win Champions League clash at Barcelona this week, the Daily Star reported.

If the Chilean ends up empty-handed after winning the title and Capital One Cup in his first season, the sheikhs would reportedly remain unimpressed.

Benitez currently heads the Abu Dhabi shortlist if Pellegrini is axed with first choice Pep Guardiola unwilling to leave Bayern Munich for at least a year. And another potential target, Diego Simeone, is also not in a hurry to quit Atletico Madrid.

Bookies have been bashed with a late surge of bets in favour of Benitez that the Spaniard would be Pellegrini's successor if the Chilean is ousted from The Etihad.

Benitez's odds have tumbled in the last two days from 16-1 to 9-2 with Paddy Power as he increasing fits the bill demanded by the owners, the report added.