The Milan boss was already on shaky ground after his side's poor start to the season and the loss to rivals Inter last week may be the last straw for president Silvio Berlusconi.

Allegri met with chief executive Adriano Galliani after the defeat to discuss the club's current troubles.

But straight after that meeting Berlusconi dispatched Galliani to New York, reportedly to meet with representatives of Guardiola.

Guardiola has been away from the game since stepping down as Barca coach at the end of last season.

The Spaniard has been linked with a number of roles since leaving the Nou Camp, but is yet to make his intentions known.

The whole issue could come to a head as soon as next weekend, if Milan fall to their fifth defeat of the season against Lazio.