Despite denials yesterday from Italy, Manchester City remain confident of landing Kaka in an £100 million deal.

City are so confident that the astonishing deal will go ahead that insiders suggest Kaka may be in their team for the home league game against Newcastle on January 28, says the Daily Mail.

The club have already been in regular contact with Kaka's father, having recognised from the outset that he has been very influential at every stage of his son's career. Meanwhile, City's current superstar Robinho has been in regular phone contact with his compatriot and has told manager Mark Hughes that Kaka is ready to come to Manchester.

City have been told that Kaka's sceptical comments on Wednesday were made in order to buy the player time.

Having been sold on the idea by Sheik Mansour and his chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, City boss Mark Hughes has indicated he would play Kaka in a central role alongside Stephen Ireland, with Robinho on the left and Shaun Wright- Phillips on the right.