Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is determined to prevent Guus Hiddink from moving to Manchester City.

The News of the World says Chelsea's billionaire owner has made it clear he will not tolerate the former Blues boss joining a Premier League rival - and certainly not City.

With the long-term future of Mark Hughes at Eastlands still in serious doubt, Hiddink and Jose Mourinho top the list of potential replacements. But Abramovich will stand in the way of Hiddink even if he wanted the job.

And while Hiddink looks certain to leave his post with Russia, after they failed to reach the World Cup finals, his loyalty to Abramovich is total.

His £5million-a-year salary is under-written by Abramovich and the pair are very close after Hiddink's successful spell at Stamford Bridge.

A Dutch source close to Hiddink revealed: "Manchester City might want Guus if they sack Mark Hughes but there is no way Abramovich would allow him to be manager at City.

"When Peter Kenyon left Chelsea he was forbidden to take up a post at Manchester City. That was part of the settlement.

"The only job Guus is likely to take now is behind the scenes at either a club in Holland or at Chelsea."