Big Phil to Man City ?

[isaidno]

Manchester City have made the first moves to appoint Luiz Felipe Scolari as their next manager.

BBC Sport understands contact has now been made between City and Portugal coach Scolari's representatives in a bid to bring him to Eastlands.

City will sack current boss Sven-Goran Eriksson at the end of the season.

Scolari, 59, is believed to be interested in succeeding Eriksson but owner Thaksin Shinawatra is still not certain he will land the Brazilian.

Thaksin is believed to want a swift answer from Scolari, with a deal worth a reported £3.2m-a-year ready to be rubber-stamped, but any moves could yet be held up by his commitments to Portugal at Euro 2008.

He has also previously been reluctant to uproot his family from Portugal and cited intrusion into his private life as one of the reasons he rejected the chance to succeed Eriksson as England coach in 2006.

Scolari has two sons who are being educated in Portugal but Thaksin wants to tempt him to the Premier League with a huge financial offer.

City fans have reacted angrily to Eriksson's imminent departure and Thaksin hopes to head off further unrest with a quick announcement that he has captured the man who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002.

Despite his treatment at the hands of Shinawatra, Eriksson is willing to lead City on their post-season tour of Thailand and Hong Kong next week, a source close to the Swede has told BBC Sport.

The source said it was "business as usual" for Eriksson and his coaching team and that no further talks were planned with Shinawatra before the end of the season.

I can't really see this happening. He turned down the England job so can't see him going there

[Ric Flair]

Sven's not done that bad a job there as well. Odd.

[ASH17LCFC]

Anyone hear what Noel Gallagher said about all this ? Was very funny

We don't won't Big Phil or Big Sam or Little Dave or Fat Paul or anyone with a stupid nickname.

[Tevez]

Manchester City fans singing to the tune of Pink Floyd's "The wall":

"We don't need no Phil Scolari,

"We don't need Mourinho,

"Hey! Thaksin! Leave our Sven alone!"

[lildave3]

Anyone hear what Noel Gallagher said about all this ? Was very funny

We don't won't Big Phil or Big Sam or Little Dave or Fat Paul or anyone with a stupid nickname.

That's quality Wilkes.

[Guest]

Sven's not done that bad a job there as well. Odd.

I dunno, Chairmen eh? They're never satisfied

[SamL]

Maybe something has gone on behind the scenes that we don't know about?

It's weird, Sven hasn't done a bad job.