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Southampton boss Ronald Koeman admits he would love to manage former club Barcelona one day - but hints he would also be open to succeeding Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City.

The Dutchman says his connections with the Catalan giants run deep but also suggests he is well placed to succeed Manuel Pellegrini if he leaves

Koeman has been widely praised for leading the Saints into the top-four race this season despite inheriting a squad shorn of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Luke Shaw in the summer.

Pellegrini, meanwhile, is under pressure, having witnessed his City side allow Chelsea to pull six points clear at the top of the Premier League and be outplayed by Barcelona at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 clash. The on-fire @LuisSuarez9 talks Clasico in an exclusive interview: http://t.co/xaZv1MPjr8 pic.twitter.com/OT0p6eujdr — beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) March 17, 2015 Having won four La Liga titles and a European Cup in six years as a player at Camp Nou, Koeman says he would love to return as coach in the future, but the Dutchman suggests he is also well-placed to take the City job if Pellegrini leaves.

"The entire world knows what I have with Barcelona and what Barcelona have with Ronald Koeman, so if I could become Barcelona coach one day, I would be delighted," the Southampton boss told radio station Cadena COPE.

When asked about City, he added: "I am friends with [director of football] Txiki [Begiristain], there is contact with him and he has my telephone number."