Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave at the end of the season.

The Spaniard signed a new deal last year to keep him at the club until 2021 but it's been reported by the Daily Mail that Guardiola could walk away at the end of the season without a breach of contract.

However, the hierarchy at City are confident that Guardiola is going nowhere but the timing of the story isn't ideal.

City are currently third in the Premier League, 14 points off league leaders Liverpool following recent defeats to Liverpool and Manchester United and a 2-2 draw with Newcastle.

It's also been reported that former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is City's back-up plan should Guardiola decide to leave in the summer.

Only last month, Guardiola was asked about the possibility of extending his contract beyond 2021.

"I’m open [to it], yes. It is not about what the club wants or not.

"For me, I want to see my players and the reaction of my players and everything.

‘It is not as simple as I want to extend. I want to see the club, I want to see the players, I want to see how we are still working together."

City have won two Premier League titles under Guardiola as well as the FA Cup and League Cup so the only trophy missing is the Champions League.

The players missed the club's staff Christmas party on Thursday night in order to avoid a repeat of last year's drop in form.

City lost back-to-back league games against Crystal Palace and Leicester in December 2018 within a week of their Christmas party.