Sven meets Benfica officials

Last updated : 08 May 2008 By Ben Collins
Representatives of the club have been in Manchester this week, including former Portugal midfielder Rui Costa, who is expected to become Benfica's director of football when he ends his playing career this summer.

Despite leading City to their best-ever Premier League points tally in his 1st season, owner Thaksin Shinawatra believes Eriksson is not the right man to take the Blues forward and is expected to leave this summer.

Benfica are therefore set to pounce and secure the service of the former England coach for a third spell in charge of the Portuguese giants.

"I've had a meeting with the Benfica people," Eriksson confirmed.

"I'm considering the offer and it could be a step forward in my career. Let's see what happens."

Thaksin has targeted Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as Sven's successor and is believed to have already made the Brazilian an offer worth £3.2m a year.

The 59-year-old, who led Brazil to the 2002 World Cup, has been told to make his decision before Euro 2008, although his spokesman, Acaz Fellegger, insists his future "will only be decided after the Euro tournament", so Thaksin may have to look elsewhere.