The Screamer: City eye Fabiano as Bianchi goes home

City expect to offload Rolando Bianchi to Lazio today in a deal that would see them get a full return on the £8.8m they paid for the Italian striker last summer.

Fabiano, 27, who is joint leading scorer in Spain with 13 goals this season, said: "I've had an offer which is higher than £8m for me and a good offer for far more wages.

"It is very difficult for me to remain in Sevilla. The negotiations for me to go to England are very advanced. It is my great opportunity."

City have other targets and manager Sven Goran Eriksson would like to sign two strikers before the window closes.

They would prefer to take players on loan with offers to buy next summer but the sale of Bianchi gives them breathing space.

He has scored just four goals in 19 Premier League appearances for Eriksson's side, but still has a formidable reputation in his home country.

Last season he scored 18 goals in 37 games for Reggina in Serie A. If the deal goes through, Lazio will pay for Bianchi over three years.

ROY KEANE has signed Sweden striker Rade Prica in a £2million deal. The 27-year-old, who was last season's top scorer in the Danish League, signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at Sunderland after completing his move from Aalborg. He is Keane's fourth January signing.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has apologised to Reading assistant manager Wally Downes for the offensive gesture that sparked an FA probe following Manchester United's 2-0 victory at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

Ferguson spoke to Downes in the tunnel and told Steve Coppell's assistant that he did not aim the gesture at the Reading bench.

Downes said: "I was made out to be the bad guy but I have only been sent off once in my time as a coach."

The pair clashed over the amount of injury time added by referee Steve Bennett.

WIGAN hope to beat Fulham to Marlon King with a cash-plus players offer for the £5million-rated Watford striker. Fulham, who have resurrected their move for King, had a £2m offer rejected for Groningen striker Erik Nevland but signed American striker Eddie Johnson from Kansas City Wizards after he was granted a work permit.

BRYAN ROBSON was summoned to Brussels on Monday for crisis talks with Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin McCabe, it emerged last night. Although Robson was given "more time" by McCabe, he is thought to have only two games to revive his team following Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie with Manchester City.