Sevilla coach Juande Ramos has loomed as a top target for Manchester City following Claudio Ranieri's appointment as Juventus boss yesterday.

The Times says Ramos is willing to leave Sevilla, where he has worked wonders in two years, and his appointment would represent a massive coup for City, although a deal would be dependent on a number of factors, not least a successful takeover by Thaksin Shinawatra.

Ramos, 52, would want assurances that City's ambitions matched his and that significant transfer funds would be available to overhaul a squad in desperate need of improvement.

Thaksin is thought to be willing to commit at least £30 million to new players. Ramos would not come cheap, either, even though personal terms have not come close to being discussed.