Manchester City owner leaks Sven's revived bid for Adriano

A bid to sign the 25-year-old centre forward failed last August because of the player's wage demands, but the deal has been revived, with City offering Italian Rolando Bianchi as bait in a proposed swap deal.

Under the terms of the offer — leaked embarrassingly by City owner Thaksin Shinawatra last night — the two players would swap clubs on loan, with Inter continuing to pay some of Adriano's £100,000-a-week wages.

Thaksin said: 'We're looking to see whether we'll do a swap deal or not. Adriano was a top player, but he lost form when his father died and he put on weight. Now he's returning to form.'

There was some bemusement at City after Thaksin told reporters in Hong Kong of his club's interest in Adriano.

In the same interview, he also revealed that he thinks midfielder Dietmar Hamann is too old — some-thing that has not gone down well in a dressing room where the World Cup and Champions League winner is a hugely respected figure.

Thaksin said: 'Hamann is getting old. We're looking at a new midfielder, who we think will play very well with Elano. We're going to play in a classic style.'

It is understood that Eriksson is continuing to track Palermo holding midfielder Mark Bresciano, whom he was unable to buy last summer, and also wants to complete his January spending with a move for a wide player.

Contrary to reports, there will be no move for Newcastle striker Michael Owen or Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano. Both are considered to be too expensive, while Owen's injury record is also counting against him.

Eriksson has a list of players he wants and it is believed that there is not a single Englishman on it, nor any player over the age of 26.

Thaksin added: 'I never talk to Sven about amounts. We'll probably have to sell some of our players and loan some, and we will buy some new players or even loan some new ones in this window. 'We're looking for one striker, one midfielder and maybe a winger.'

Eriksson said: 'I have had a lot of agents on the phone offering their players and that is because we are doing well. I expect to be able to sign the players I want. Many players want to play in Europe and that is what we hope to be able to offer. It is not enough for top players to be playing league football. They want Europe as well.'

City go to Tottenham tomorrow in fifth place in the Barclays Premier League but with Eriksson bemoaning his team's failure to win away from home.

They have not won in the league since the opening day at West Ham and the Swede feels his players may have a mental block.

He said: 'It is not physical or tactical. I think maybe we are not brave enough when we go away from home. I know it's more difficult with the fans. I understand that.

'It's a little bit of everything. Most of the clubs in the Premier League are better at home than they are away. It's normal. But in some of the away games I hoped and thought that we would do better.'

City will be without Belgium striker Emile Mpenza, while Brazilian midfielder Elano will have a late fitness check on a damaged hamstring.

Michael Johnson returns in midfield after groin trouble.