Eriksson promises more signings as Petrov joins City

The lavish overhaul of Manchester City gathered pace yesterday as Sven Goran Eriksson beat Tottenham Hotspur to the signature of Martin Petrov and confirmed he is only midway through a spending spree totalling £17m in the 21 days since he returned to English football.

Bulgarian international Petrov became Eriksson's fourth summer signing yesterday morning when he signed a three-year contract within hours of arriving in Manchester to discuss personal terms. The 28-year-old staggered long-time suitors Spurs with the speed of his negotiations with City and, although the deal has been officially valued at £4.7m, the fee is likely to rise towards the £6m mark as Atletico Madrid recoup part of their £13.4m outlay on the Benfica winger Simao Sabrosa.

Eriksson, flanked by Petrov and the free signing Geovanni at a hastily convened press conference at which he acted as interpreter (the Swede speaking Portuguese to the Brazilian and Spanish to the Bulgarian, thereby putting all present to shame with his linguistic skills) was credited as the decisive factor in the left winger's decision to reject Uefa Cup football at White Hart Lane.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world but the main reason I have joined Manchester City is because of the manager," insisted Petrov, who joins £9m Rolando Bianchi, £2m Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes and Geovanni at a club that has acted with haste since the completion of Thaksin Shinawatra's controversial takeover.

The City manager wants another four players on board before the start of the new season, with Juventus' £8m-rated defender Giorgio Chiellini next in line. "There will be more players," confirmed Eriksson. "It is a big job, but it is also a big club and a big project. I am happy to have that. Everything is a bit hectic at the moment but the season starts in two weeks and we need to be ready."

Chiellini appeals to Eriksson as he can operate in central defence or left back, two areas where City require strengthening, and may open talks this weekend when the club travel to Charleroi for a pre-season friendly. Seville's Serbian defender Ivica Dragutinovic is a possible alternative should a deal for the Italian international stall.

Eriksson remains in the market for another striker despite the capture of the former Reggina forward Bianchi and still hopes to conclude a £10m deal for Olympiakos' Nery Castillo, although the Greek club are reluctant to sell the Mexican international who impressed at the recent Copa America. Towering Serbian centre forward Nikola Zigic, of Racing Santander, has also been discussed by the City hierarchy but the more favoured option is Middlesbrough's Aiyegbeni Yakubu.

In midfield, Nantes' Emerse Fae has emerged as a likely candidate to strengthen a department weakened by the loss of Joey Barton this summer while Liverpool's Scott Carson is Eriksson's preferred option for a new goalkeeper and the only English-born player currently in the sights of the former national team coach.

"English players are on my list and a lot of people are working hard for us to get them, but Manchester City are not the only club looking to buy players and English players are more expensive," the manager explained.

"It is no secret that the English market is more expensive, but the good thing is everyone wants to come and play in this country. Ten to 15 years ago it was Serie A, now it is the Premier League, and we should be very happy about that."

City are also prepared to offer a new contract extension to promising young midfielder Michael Johnson following reported interest in their latest Academy graduate from Liverpool.