City set for striker moves

Betfacts / Editor / 25 June 2007 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

West Ham striker Marlon Harewood will reportedly become Sven-Goran Eriksson's first signing for Manchester City - if he takes the job.

The former England coach is set to be announced as the new manager at Eastlands (currently he is trading as the 1.23 favourite) during this week following ex-Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's takeover of the club.

And, despite rumours of a £50million transfer kitty at his disposal, the Swede is said to be preparing a swoop on the Hammers for 27-year-old Harewood, who has been told he no longer figures in the plans of boss Alan Curbishley.

It is thought Eriksson is a huge fan of Harewood, who he sees as a younger version of former England hitman Emile Heskey, and would like to take him as part of a little and large partnership possibly involving Newcastle's former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Michael Owen.

Despite Harewood suffering in West Ham's relegation battle last term and only finding the net on four occasions, Eriksson would still face a battle with the likes of Birmingham, Fulham, Aston Villa and Portsmouth to secure the £4million-rated player's services.

Tottenham striker Mido may also be making his way to Eastlands after he rejected reports he has already agreed to join Fulham, revealing he is awaiting developments at City.

The Egypt international striker is set to leave White Hart Lane and was thought to be high on countryman Mohammed Fayed's Fulham shopping list, with Cottagers boss Lawrie Sanchez also keen.

But the ex-Roma striker has admitted he is awaiting news of City's takeover and subsequent managerial appointment before he makes a decision on quitting Spurs.

A new striker is certainly something that City need if they are to avoid the troubles of last season, when midfielder Joey Barton finished as their top scorer with seven goals in all competitions.

The club had the joint-worst scoring record of just 29, alongside Watford, while they mustered just ten of those at the City of Manchester Stadium.

City are seen as an outside chance at 10 to finish in the top six next term, despite the arrival of a new manager and a promised influx of cash to spend on rebuilding the squad.

However, punters appear to feel they will be more involved at the other end of the table. They can be backed at 4.9 for relegation, with Derby (1.59), Wigan (2.18), Birmingham (2.26), Fulham (2.92) and Sunderland (4.8) ahead of them in the market.