Point-Spreads.com sources have stated that Thaksin Shinawatra could complete his Manchester City takeover and install Sven-Goran Eriksson as boss on Wednesday. Despite the news of Erikksson becoming the new manager, Manchester City is a long shot at +120000 odds to win the 2007/08 Barclays Premiership at BetUS.com.
Club officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the former Thailand prime minister will have the 75% share of the club he needs to take control within the next 24 hours. Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson will then formally sign the three-year contract he has already agreed. Mega wealthy Thaksin has currently bought up a 65.78% share in the Premiership club.
Earlier this summer Thaksin lodged an £81.6m takeover bid for City through his company UK Sports Investments. The City board has backed the bid but there have been concerns about the source of the money, with Thaksin facing corruption charges in Thailand. But the man who brokered the City deal has said "the money is clean".
On Sunday, Keith Harris, executive chairman of Seymour Pierce Investment Bank, said the money had been "legitimately and transparently transferred to the UK".
Thai prosecutors recently filed corruption charges against Thaksin. They have also frozen his assets but Thaksin insisted this would have no effect on his takeover of the club and that the charges were politically motivated by the military installed government that replaced him.
The new shares are believed to be from broadcaster Sky as they are the only major shareholder remaining after Thaksin received a 55.9% stake following pledges from board members and former chairman Francis Lee.
He is now getting nearer to the 75% ownership mark where he can de-list the company and take it into private ownership.
Chelsea: +135
Manchester United: +135
Liverpool: +500
Arsenal: +700
Tottenham Hotspur: +9000
Aston Villa: +25000
Everton: +25000
Newcastle: +20000
West Ham: +40000
Portsmouth: +65000
Blackburn: +50000
Bolton: +50000
Middlesbrough: +75000
Reading: +100000
Sunderland: +80000
Manchester City: +120000
Fulham: +250000
Wigan: +250000
Birmingham: +300000
Derby: +500000
