[D-Kin]

It looks like he's off to Man City.

Manchester City have agreed a fee with Reggina for marksman Rolando Bianchi and the move is set to be completed on Wednesday.

The ex-Atalanta striker rose from obscurity to write his name on several Serie A shopping lists after firing the Calabrian minnows to top-flight survival last term with 18 goals.

A summer move was inevitable with Juventus and Napoli both allegedly lining up a swoop, but now it seems Bianchi is ready to ply his trade abroad and Manchester City are set to pounce.

New City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is an admirer of the 24-year-old and has encouraged the club’s owner Thaksin Shinawatra to table an offer of just under £9m with payment in three annual installments.

"We have reached a preliminary agreement with Manchester City for a transfer fee of £8.8m," Reggina President Pasquale Foti confirmed.

It had been suggested that Bianchi would favour a move to Spain with Atletico Madrid in the frame, but the La Liga side are yet to make any approach.

Messina’s Christian Rigano’ may be the former Atalanta ace's replacement at the Stadio Granillo.

The 33-year-old is keen to quit the Biancoscudati and has also been linked to Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg who are led by ex-Azzurri tactician Giovanni Trapattoni.

channel4.com - Football Italia