CITY CLOSE IN ON BIANCHI

Manchester City could complete an £8million move for Reggina striker Rolando Bianchi by the weekend.

Although Sven-Goran Eriksson is yet to make a formal bid for the 24-year-old, who finished fourth top-scorer in Serie A last term, discussions over the player are expected to progress over the next couple of days.

The timescale may prove to be slightly optimistic but Eriksson has not abandoned totally the idea Bianchi might be on board before Saturday's opening pre-season friendly at Doncaster.

Bianchi would not be involved at the Keepmoat Stadium but at least a swift conclusion to the transfer - Eriksson's first since he succeeded Stuart Pearce as manager last week - would at least allow the Italian to have a couple of training sessions with his new team-mates before they depart for a two-game tour of Sweden next Wednesday.

Eriksson has made it a priority to bring in striking reinforcements - City scored just 29 goals last season.

Bianchi clearly tops his list of targets but if England defender Micah Richards has his way, Eriksson will also be signing Tottenham's Jermain Defoe.

Richards has struck up a close friendship with Defoe and, speaking to the official Manchester City magazine, made it clear he would like the former West Ham star to be a team-mate for both club and country.

The defender explained: "If I could choose anyone, I would like to see my good mate Jermain Defoe sign for us.

"I think he would do really well for City and the way we are heading, I think it would be a great move for him too.

"Maybe I will give him a call and see what he says."

Defoe has already stated his intention to remain at White Hart Lane for another year despite increased competition in the striking department, so Richards' efforts are likely to be wasted.

It also appears Christian Wilhelmsson may not be bound for City either, despite reports linking Eriksson with his fellow Swede, who spent last season at Roma.

While the former England coach is an admirer of the 27-year-old, it is not thought he would make a move for Wilhelmsson until much nearer the August 31 transfer deadline.

Eriksson is starting to make his presence felt at Eastlands though and seems set to name Hans Becke as his assistant at some point within the next 24 hours.

Confirmation of City's final pre-season opponents is also due, with a top Spanish, rather than Italian outfit, now expected in the north-west for the annual Thomas Cook Trophy on August 4.

With plenty of new faces certain before the opening Premier League game at West Ham a week later, it is certainly an exciting time to be a Blues follower, justifying Richards' decision to commit his short-term future to the club.

With a new owner and new manager, much has already altered since Richards limped out of last season with a combination of Achilles and foot problems.

Thankfully, those injuries are now resolved, allowing the defender, who became England's seventh-youngest international when he appeared in the friendly with Holland last November, to meet with Eriksson on his first day back at training.

"He seems like a really nice guy," confirmed Richards.

"I had not met him before he took over at the club because he had just left when I got my first England call-up.

"Sven has the money - and he certainly has the knowledge. He has a great track record in management and all the players have a great deal of respect for him, so he has a good base to work from."

Richards has also had to get used to life without two long-standing team-mates as Sylvain Distin and Joey Barton have departed for Portsmouth and Newcastle respectively.

He admits to being 'gutted' at the pair's exit and feels their influence on City affairs will be missed.

He added: "They were two of our key players and I am disappointed they have gone.

"I know Joey did a few bad things during his time at City and maybe he felt he needed a fresh start.

"But he was a nice guy to have around the camp and he will be missed.

"Sylvain made me feel welcome from the moment I arrived at the club, so I was sorry to see him leave too."

Taken from =football365=