Ranieri favourite for City as Thai talks continue

Premier League / Editor / 31 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Claudio Ranieri remains the overwhelming favourite to become the next manger of Manchester City with the news that Thaksin Shinawatra is closing in on a takeover.

The former Thai Prime Minister appears desperate to invest in English football and was linked with a takeover at Merseyside giants Liverpool a couple of years ago.

That particular door was closed quite firmly, but Shinawatra is now interested in taking over at the City of Manchester Stadium and it is thought he favours a continental manager to take over from the recently-sacked Stuart Pearce.

Ranieri is currently in charge of Serie A outfit Parma and has already stated that he is keen to stay with the Italians, and talks are planned this week to sort out his future.

But punters believe the former Chelsea boss will be the next man in charge at Eastlands and the 'Tinkerman' trades as the 1.43 favourite to succeed the former England left-back.

Some reports claim that Ranieri has already made his mind up to return to the Premiership and Shinawatra is also favourite to complete a takeover, following the news that former City player Ray Ranson has abandoned his hopes of buying the club.

Other names in the frame for the City job include former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier (8.2), Celtic supremo Gordon Strachan (19.5), former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson (28) and Billy Davies (34), who has just guided Derby County to the Premiership via the play-offs.