Shaun snubs Sven - Wright-Phillips won’t go back to City if Swede takes charge

Chelsea's attempts to capture Lyon's Florent Malouda have cast further doubt over the future of the winger, who has struggled to justify his £21million transfer two years ago.

Scroll down to read more:

City are keen to take him back, and Eriksson has been promised £50m for new signings after agreeing in principle to take charge when Thaksin Shinawatra's takeover has been completed.

That possibility moved a step closer yesterday when the former Thai Prime Minister increased his stake to 66 per cent after buying Sky's 9.9 per cent shareholding. He is now within reach of the 75 per cent needed to delist the club from the Stock Exchange.

While are turn to his former club might appeal to the England winger, the thought of linking up again with Eriksson certainly does not. Wright- Phillips was often sidelined during the Swede's England reign and his father told talk-SPORT: 'No, it's not happening.I know he loves Manchester City. Whether he loves City with Sven in charge is another story.

'It hasn't gone as well as he would have liked at Chelsea, everyone knows that. But he has to see how his options go, see what he's going to do with Chelsea for a start.

'But I would categorically say the chances of Shaun going back to City, with Eriksson as their manager, are very, very slim. Majorly slim, in fact.'

Yet Chelsea may still keep Wright-Phillips even if they beat Liverpool in the race for highly rated Malouda. Manager Jose Mourinho was impressed with the winger's contribution towards the end of last season, and the suggestion of a £12m fee is much less than Chelsea's valuation. Lyon have agreed to Malouda's request to leave, but Chelsea and Liverpool must decide if they are prepared to meet the £14m asking price for France's Player of the Year in a deal that his club insist must be tied up by the weekend.

Meeting the deadline could prove problematic for Chelsea given the uncertainty that remains over Arjen Robben.

Mourinho will only move for Malouda should the offer of a five-year deal for the Dutchman remain unsigned.

Real Madrid are favourites to sign the midfielder if he does not sign the new contract but a move to the Bernabeu by the weekend is unlikely.

Liverpool's chase for Malouda has been overshadowed by their move for hotshot Fernando Torres, 23. A deal was in the balance last night after hundreds of Atletico Madrid fans took to the streets to demonstrate against the striker's proposed £25m move.

There have already been lengthy talks but Liverpool fear the show of unrest will only harden Atletico's resolve to hang on to him even though Liverpool now have an extra £2m to play with following the sale of Mark Gonzalez to Real Betis.

Luis Garcia hinted he may be ready to be used to make weight in a deal by claiming on Spanish TV that he was 'only thinking of Liverpool' but adding: 'I would like to return to Spain after Anfield. Not to Barcelona, to Atletico Madrid.'

Bulgaria Under 21 goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov, 19, has joined Liverpool from Levski Sofia on a three-year deal and West Ham winger Yossi Benayoun is still wanted at Anfield. The Hammers appear to have planned for his exit by joining Middlesbrough and Fulham in the race for £3m-rated Aston Villa midfielder Steve Davis.

Eriksson may fare little better with a move for Benayoun after his snub by Wright-Phillips, while United States winger DaMarcus Beasley, who had a loan spell at City last season, has joined Rangers from PSV.