Manzano: Paolo's the man for us

Málaga coach Gregorio Manzano believes Manchester City striker Paulo Wanchope is just the player his club needs to end their striking woes.

Málaga have been looking to sign a centre-forward all summer after the loss of Salva Ballesta, Diego Alonso and Manuel Canabal at the end of last season left them looking distinctly lightweight up front.

The club have acquired former Borussia Dortmund hitman Marcio Amoroso, but that still leaves them short and now it is looking as though Wanchope could be next on the agenda, although Manzano is taking nothing for granted.

“It is too early to make any declarations until he has signed a document because anything can happen,” Manzano told Malaga paper El Diario Sur.

The Málaga coach, did, however, make it clear that Wanchope was exactly the sort of player he would like to see at the club.

“I can say that he is one of the players that we want in that position. He is a ‘number nine’ – a player at home in the penalty area and a reference that central defenders fix their attention on,” he said.