Manchester City may be forced to change owners for the second time within a year.

In an official statement today, the Blues stressed the club is not for sale but did admit that the owner Thaksin Shinawatra has had "exploratory" discussions with would be investors.

The Manchester Evening News says at least three groups - believed to be based in the Middle East and India - have been approached by an intermediary with a brief to find the money to catapult City into the Premier League top four.

However, financial analysts say big money investors are likely to want full control and could launch a full-blown buy-out bid - and that would leave billionaire Thaksin, 59 with a major dilemma as he's facing corruption charges in his homeland and still has £800m of his fortune frozen.