Pressure on Hughes as City approach Hiddink

The speculation over Mark Hughes position as Manchester City manager shows no signs of abating after reports that former Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has been approached by the club with a view to taking over in the summer.

City slumped to defeat against Spurs on Wednesday night, and although it was only their second defeat of the campaign, that added to the pressure on Hughes.

The manager has orders to get the club into the Champions League, but City have won only one of their last 10 games, and have drawn eight. They are currently languishing in eighth place in the league, six points off Villa in fourth spot, although they have a game in hand.

According the the Telegraph, Hiddink's agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen was approached by City chief executive Garry Cook with a view to taking over.

Van Nieuwenhuizen said: "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.

"I said it was not worth discussing it because Guus was happy," he added.

Although Hiddink is apparently not up for the job, there are others who may be. One of them is Jose Mourinho, whose relationship with Inter Milan is rapidly souring.

The situation at City is not dissimilar to the one he walked into at Chelsea. When Mourinho arrived - hailing himself as the 'Special One' in the process - the Londoners were also seeking success after a huge financial outlay from the owners.

Hughes' immediate future rests on City's next few games against Sunderland, Stoke City and Wolverhampton. If he negotiates those successfully and brings in more players during the January transfer window he may still survive. ·