Akram deal to fall through?

Nashat Akram looks unlikely to join Man City from UAE giants Al-Ain after he was denied a work permit by the Home Office to begin work in this country, instead the third-best Asian player of 2007 looks set to return to his old club.

Eriksson told reporters: "This is a big blow and a great disappointment to us. I have huge sympathy for Nashat. He is a very good footballer with an excellent international pedigree.

"He has now returned to the Middle East and we will keep in touch with him. He is somebody who we will maintain an interest in for the long term."