Manchester City are on the verge of signing Brazilian striker Jo, while Ronaldinho may not be far behind.
Jo and Ronaldinho expected at Eastlands
Manchester City are on the verge of signing Brazilian striker Jo, while Ronaldinho may not be far behind after both moves were approved by new manager Mark Hughes.
City owner Thaksin Shinawatra had put all summer transfers on hold while he conducted a search for a successor to Sven Goran Eriksson.
But now Hughes has been secured and the Welshman has given a move for long-term target Jo the all-clear, Thaksin is expected to complete his swoop for the CSKA Moscow forward.
City's recently appointed executive chairman Garry Cook has confirmed that Jo is now set to arrive at Eastlands.
Secret
"We have had a conversation with Mark Hughes about this because we wanted to see what he felt," said Cook. "But it would be fair to say we expect to see Jo at Manchester City."
Meanwhile, Cook has reiterated City's desire to land two-time Fifa World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, who Hughes would also be eager to call upon next season.
Ronaldinho is set to leave Barcelona this summer after falling out of favour at Camp Nou and Shinawatra has made no secret of his admiration of the Brazilian playmaker.
But Cook insists City are equally keen to avoid any attempt to sign the 28-year-old turning into a publicity stunt.
Competitive
"We want to bring the best players to our football club," Cook added on
Sky Sports News. "It is well documented that we are well down that path, but we also know it is a very competitive landscape.
"We sat down with Mark and said, 'here are some targets, what do you think?' and he has been very clear in his thoughts and Ronaldinho is one of those.
"But we don't want this to become a marketing exercise. Mark has to make the decision about whether he is in the football team.
"We are not taking him at the expense of being a great football club."
