City press on despite Ranieri blow

Manchester City’s long-running takeover saga may have cost them the chance to secure a new manager but the club insist they are now at an “advanced” stage in negotiations over their future.

Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri was hoping to take charge at City after quitting Parma last week but he was waiting for former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to complete a buy-out at Eastlands.