Sven Goran Eriksson is favourite for the vacant manager's job at Manchester City.

The Mail on Sunday says, however, the Swede's move to Eastlands is being held up over City's confusing takeover talks.

Apart from Thaksin Shinawatra's team, a different group of headhunters, led by chief executive Alistair Mackintosh, have been looking for successors to Stuart Pearce and have been rebuffed by Sevilla manager Juan Ramos and Blackburn boss Mark Hughes.

To add to the uncertainty surrounding the Eastlands club, Chris Coleman could now emerge as a rival candidate to Eriksson. Coleman was sacked by Fulham after falling out with owner Mohamed Al Fayed towards the end of last season and is prepared to move to the North West.