City drop Wanchope as Malaga pounce

PAULO WANCHOPE was withdrawn from the Manchester City squad for last night's match at Birmingham after Spanish club Malaga moved in for the player.

The Costa Rica international, 28, has slipped down the pecking order at Eastlands behind first-choice strikers Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler, and Jon Macken.

"We are in discussion with Malaga about the possible transfer of Paulo Wanchope," said City communications chief Paul Tyrrell.

"The player is aware of Malaga's interest in him."

Injuries have blighted Wanchope's career at City, with a recurring knee problem causing him to miss a number of matches. When it flared up again last season, he travelled to the United States for another operation.

Wanchope returned to score four goals in the final three games of the season but he has yet to feature in either of City's two matches so far this campaign.