Portsmouth have made a move for Mexico coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

The Daily Mail says Eriksson, preparing his team to face the USA in a vital World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, has already been contacted through intermediaries and is interested in a sensational return to English football.

In another twist, Portsmouth face his former club Manchester City at Fratton Park on Saturday lunchtime and they want their new manager in place before that crunch clash.

The former England manager, who still has a flat in London to which he often returns, fears a backlash from furious Mexico fans if he accepts the job before the USA clash but he is tempted by the offer of the chance to keep the Pompey Chimes ringing out in the Barclays Premier League.

Incredibly, Pompey are prepared to let Eriksson job-share with his international role if he can convince owner Alexandre Gaydamak and executive chairman Peter Storrie he can save them from relegation.