RUMOUR MILL

In light of the departure of (now former) assistant manager Ray Wilkins from Chelsea , and this morning's new, official Chelsea FC revelation that Frank Arnesen will be leaving his position as Sporting Director at the club at the end of this season, there is now a new, highly controversial rumours that suggest that Pep Guardiola, the Barcelona manager, is primed to take over from the current incumbent, Carlo Ancelotti, at the end of this season.

Rumours are that the club are seeking to replace Sporting Director Frank Arnesen with Barcelona’s former Director of Football Txiki Begiristain and hope that he can persuade Guardiola, whose contract expires at the end of the season, to come with him to Stamford Bridge.

According to sources close to Begiristain, he has met with representatives of Roman Abramovich, Chelsea’s owner, and is enthusiastic about succeeding Arnesen, especially if it would allow him to resurrect his successful partnership with Guardiola.

For Abramovich, Guardiola and Begiristain would represent an ideal pairing.

He has made no secret of his desire to see Chelsea winning by playing the most attractive football and, while the team has certainly played more aesthetically appealing football under Ancelotti, Guardiola’s Barcelona play the most stylish football in the world - an intricate passing game at dizzying speed allied to an intense pressure game when possession is lost.

The formula has been a huge success. Guardiola was appointed to succeed Frank Rijkaard in the summer of 2008 and won the league, cup and Champions League in his first season as manager. He retained the league title last season.

Guardiola renewed his contract with Barcelona last January but only for an extra year.

OTHER PEOPLE THINK THAT THIS RUMOUR WAS PLANTED BY JOSE MOURINHO AHEAD OF MONDAY NIGHTS GAME [ El Clásico ] BETWEEN BARCELONA AND REAL MADRID ........... YOU DECIDE