Man City to sign three Thai players

Manchester City, now belonging to ex-Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, plan to sign three Thai players.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, who took the helm after Thaksin bought the club in July, is due to arrive in Thailand on Friday to make the signings, said Vittaya Khunpleum, chairman of Thai side Chonburi FC.

Two of the players -- Suree Sukha and Kietprawut Sai-aeo -- come from his club, while the other player is Theerasil Daengda from Bangkok's Muangthong-Nongchok United FC, Vittaya said.

He said the chairman of the Football Association of Thailand told him about Eriksson's visit and the signings, and hailed it as a chance to showcase Asian and Thai football."Our players are qualified. If they can play in the (Man City) first team, football will become more interesting and it will help professional football in Thailand," Vittaya said.

"It is lucky that the chairman of the club is Thai," he added.Thaksin, who was deposed in a coup in September 2006, now lives in England and is wanted in Thailand on charges of corruption. He has refused to return to the kingdom and says the charges are politically motivated.

Since buying Man City for 162.6 million dollars, the Thai billionaire has said he wants to bring players from his homeland to the club.His team is currently third in the Premier League.