Thaksin going nowhere

The former Thailand prime minister has been dismayed at the way talks with potential commercial and business partners have been interpreted, suggesting they could offer him a way of walking away from the Eastlands outfit just over a year after he bought the club.

But a club spokesman said: "It is not true to say Thaksin Shinawatra is selling Manchester City. He spoke with (executive chairman) Garry Cook on Wednesday morning and those were the sentiments he echoed in very strong terms."

Thaksin's plans for the Blues have not been helped by his inability to release over £1billion in assets, the sentencing of wife Pojaman to three years in prison for tax evasion - though she is now on bail pending appeal - and his own fraud allegations that still have to be answered, but he remains committed to City.

However, it has been confirmed Thaksin has been in contact with associates, who have expressed an interest in investing in the club, although these have been nothing more than 'exploratory'.

City boss Mark Hughes could certainly do with a bit of extra financial muscle given it will take the impending sale of Vedran Corluka to Tottenham for the Welshman to start moulding his squad.

The only new arrivals at Eastlands this summer have been Brazilian striker Jo - currently on Olympic duty - and Tal Ben Haim, whose arrival for £5million from Chelsea represents the first time in the Thaksin regime that a player has been purchased from a Premier League rival.