City confirm another three global partners

City's latest partners are top Swiss side Grasshoppers Club Zurich, Australian A-League side Perth Glory and Thailand Premier League leaders Chonburi FC.

City now has six alliances with clubs around the globe having already confirmed deals with China's Shanghai Shenhua, South Africa's Thanda Royal Zulu FC and Russian side FC Moscow.

The latest announcement was made in City owner Thaksin Shinawatra's native Thailand, where City will also build an Academy.

Academy manager Jim Cassell has joined Sven and City's Chinese star Sun Jihai in Thailand and will be looking for a site for the Academy over the next two days.

"Dr Thaksin wants to spread Manchester City's global profile and is also keen to give young Thai footballers every opportunity of developing to their full potential," Cassell told the City website.

City have taken three youngsters on trial from Shanghai Shenhua and have also signed the three Thai internationals that came on trial in August.

Kiatprawut Saiwaew (21), Suree Sukha (25) and Teerasil Dangda (19) were all in the Thai squad for the Asian Cup earlier this year, with Sukha starting all three of their matches while fellow defender Saiwaew played in two.

They will travel to City after an important World Cup Qualifier against Yemen on Sunday and train with the City squad before going to play for one of the Blues' new partner clubs.

Grasshoppers and Perth Glory have already expressed an interest in taking them on.