Sven Goran Eriksson is preparing a £12million swoop for Jermain Defoe when the transfer window opens in January.
City owner Thaksin Shinawatra handed Eriksson around £40m in the summer, but has been so impressed by the team’s start he will make a further £25m available when the transfer window opens.
Eriksson is determined to spend it to keep third-placed City in the top four of the Premier League, with unsettled Defoe top of his list of targets – even though he left the striker behind for the World Cup and took untried Theo Walcott instead.
England defender Micah Richards advised Eriksson to make a bid for Defoe in the summer, and the manager has now taken his celebrated youngster at his word.