Reggina say Bianchi set to join Man. City

Reggina striker Rolando Bianchi is poised to become Sven-Goran Eriksson's first signing at Manchester City, the Italian club said yesterday. The 24-year-old scored 18 league goals last season as the Serie A side avoided relegation despite an 11-point...

Reggina striker Rolando Bianchi is poised to become Sven-Goran Eriksson's first signing at Manchester City, the Italian club said yesterday.

The 24-year-old scored 18 league goals last season as the Serie A side avoided relegation despite an 11-point penalty for their role in Italy's match-fixing scandal.

"We have reached a preliminary agreement with Manchester City for the permanent transfer of Rolando Bianchi in a 13 million euro transfer deal," Reggina president Pasquale Foti was quoted as saying by British and Italian media.

"The deal will be completed on Wednesday (today)," he added.

Former England manager Eriksson was named City manager last Friday after a year out of the game following England's defeat by Portugal in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final in Germany.

Eriksson is no stranger to Italy having coached Lazio to a scudetto in 2000 and managed Roma, Fiorentina and Sampdoria.

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