Manchester City are turning to Barcelona expertise for their front office. Former Barcelona vice president Ferran Soriano is in the frame to become the club's chief executive and would bring with him former Nou Camp technical director Txiki Begiristain as director of football..

City have trawled the game to draw up a shortlist of the best talent since CEO Garry Cook resigned four months ago..

Soriano, who speaks good English, was on the Barcelona board between 2003 and 2008 while Begiristain left in 2010 after seven years..

Together they are credited with much of the development of Barca into Europe's dominant force.