Claudio Ranieri intends to raid Manchester United for Giuseppe Rossi should he be named as Manchester City manager.

The Daily Star Sunday says the Italian was favourite to replace Stuart Pearce once the takeover by former Thai President Thaksin Shinawatra goes through.

And Manchester United striker Rossi is top of his shopping list, with City ready to offer £3.5million for the striker.

Ranieri is a massive fan of the American born frontman, who helped him save Parma from relegation from Serie A this term. Rossi is not expected to feature much at United next season with Wayne Rooney, Alan Smith, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Louis Saha all ahead of him in the pecking order.