Sven-Goran Eriksson

CITY'S owner and manager will today thrash out a blueprint that they hope will end with the club back amongst the European elite.

And according to boss Sven-Goran Eriksson he expects nothing but a positive chat after the Blues last night bounced back into the European picture with a 2-1 win over Tottenham.

"I don't know whether the result makes things different but I don't expect a difficult meeting. I expect Dr Thaksin to confirm what he wants to do in the future," said the Swede.

"It is important he tells us what he wants to do with the club in one year and three years."

Chairman Thaksin Shinawatra, who is currently battling to free up £800m of assets frozen in bank accounts in Thailand, will demand a progress report, whilst Eriksson hopes for the green light on a list of potential targets that is `long and full of quality'.

Eriksson wants to ascertain that the funds will be there to chase those `star' players that Shinawatra wants to see fill the stadium and challenge the `big four'.

Barcelona's midfielder Deco and Dinamo Zagreb's Luka Modric may be targets for the Blues who have, more fancifully, been linked with Thierry Henry. They will not, however, be chasing Michael Owen.