Manchester City's top two managerial targets remain Juande Ramos and Sven-Goran Eriksson - with Ronald Koeman not thought to be a contender.

Sevilla coach Ramos is now understood to have expressed an interest in the Eastlands vacancy, even though he has 12 months left to run on his current deal with the Spanish Primera Liga high-flyers.

City know there is a buy-out clause in his contract and are expected to move once Thaksin Shinawatra's £120million takeover goes through in the coming weeks.

Eriksson is believed to be the back-up option if Ramos ultimately decides to stay at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

A flurry of betting on Koeman led to feverish speculation among City fans on Friday but the Dutchman's odds are now lengthening again.

The PSV Eindhoven boss was apparently "spotted" in Manchester by various sources but it remains unclear if the sightings were genuine.