Enter Guus? Man City approach former Chelsea boss Hiddink over switch

18 December 2009 12:46
Guus Hiddink has been approached by Manchester City, according to the Russia manager's agent.[LNB]Cees van Nieuwenhuizen has said he was contacted by City chief executive Garry Cook to request talks with Hiddink, but the former Chelsea boss' agent politely declined.[LNB]'Yes, I did (speak to Cook). But Guus is happy with Russia. Definitely,' Van Nieuwenhuizen told the Daily Telegraph.[LNB] City target: Guus Hiddink[LNB]Van Nieuwenhuizen is not aware whether Cook wanted to discuss the possibility of Cook succeeding manager Mark Hughes or being installed alongside the Welshman.[LNB]'I don't know because I said it was not worth discussing it because Guus was happy,' he said.[LNB]'I had a call because I have been working with Garry for 12 years since we worked together at Nike.[LNB]'He (Cook) asked me if it would be worthwhile having a meeting to discuss the future and what might happen next summer. But I told him that Guus was contracted to Russia.[LNB] Miserable: Niko Kranjcar scores Tottenham's third goal on a dreadful night for Manchester City at White Hart Lane[LNB]'I said I didn't think it was worth having a meeting. Guus is very relaxed. He starts his holiday tomorrow and in January there are elections for a new president for the Russian Federation.[LNB]'He is contracted until next summer but there is an offer for him tostay for two more years, and I think he will definitely stay.'[LNB]Pressureis mounting on Hughes following six wins in City's opening 16 PremierLeague matches this season, which leaves them eighth in the table.[LNB]Van Nieuwenhuizen expects Hiddink to remain with Russia beyond his current deal, which expires next summer.[LNB]City are not the only club to express an interest in Hiddink.[LNB]City slicker: Garry Cook[LNB]Van Nieuwenhuizen added: 'I have received calls from all over the world about Guus. There has also been an approach from Juventus.'[LNB]Hiddink has a clause in his contract allowing him to leave Russia at any moment following the failure to qualify for South Africa 2010.[LNB]However, he has been offered an extension to Euro 2012 and is almost certain to wait until the Russian FA have elected a new president on February 3 before announcing his intentions.[LNB]Hiddink is likely to remain with Russia, despite a backlash in the country, if Sergei Kapkov becomes his new boss.[LNB]Kapkov currently runs Abramovich's National Academy of Football, which pays Hiddink's Russia salary.[LNB]Van Nieuwenhuizen said Hiddink would most likely reveal his plans for after the summer when he gets back from his holiday.[LNB]He told Radio Five Live: 'He will think about his future after the summer and when he gets back in mid-January he might have made up his mind.[LNB]'And I expect him then to make a call to the Russian Federation to say "let's sign this contact for two more years".'[LNB]Van Nieuwenhuizen added he does not believe Hiddink is thinking seriously about returning to England.[LNB]He said: 'I don't think that he will seriously consider a position in the Premier League.[LNB]'He enjoyed every minute of the Premier League he experienced with Chelsea. But that does not automatically mean that he is looking for a return to the Premier League at any moment, any club, any price. Definitely not.'[LNB] Heat is on Hughes: Man City boss has to lift the gloom at EastlandsBarry and Manchester City left wounded after their mauling at TottenhamMANCHESTER CITY FC

Source: Daily_Mail