Manchester City tracking Brazilian duo
City claim to be in negotiations with Ronaldinho
Also In The News
|
A goal from centre-half Pepe and another from Raul Meireles has given Portugal a 2-0 win over Turkey this evening in Group A of Euro 2008. |  |
Sunday, 08, Jun 2008 03:11
Manchester City executive chairman Garry Cook says the club are close to agreeing a deal for Brazilian striker Jo and are in negotiations with Ronaldinho.
Cook says he expects the deal for Jo to be completed within the next week, while he admits the process of attracting Ronaldinho to Eastlands will take much longer.
Although the deal to take Jo to Manchester is expected to be a big one, it is the prospect of signing his compatriot Ronaldinho that will have City fans most excited.
Cook claims to have gained permission from Barcelona to speak with the former world footballer of the year but concedes a deal to take him to Eastlands is still a fair way off being completed.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five, Cook said: "It's a tenuous stage and I don't want to give too much away, but Barcelona gave us clearance to talk to him
"We're nowhere near completion but the most important thing is that he wants to get back and play football."
City have been linked with a move for Ronaldinho since the January transfer window and look to have moved a step closer to realising their dream signing.
Cook added: "He [Ronaldinho] wants to show the world he is the greatest player. At the moment, though, we're just ticking off the boxes."
The more imminent deal, however, is for Jo who currently plays for CSKA Moscow and has scored 30 goals in 53 appearances for the Russian side since his transfer from Corinthians in 2006.
The forward has earned one cap for Brazil and is expected to cost City around £20 million.
"I think we will be taking care of that one pretty quickly. It might be within the next seven days, sooner if possible," said Cook.