MANCHESTER CITY ARE expected to continue their spending spree today by announcing the signing of Elano for about £7.5 million from Shakhtar Donetsk. The highly-regarded attacking midfield player will become the fifth player to arrive at the Barclays Premier League club since Sven-Göran Eriksson took over as manager this month.

Elano, who can play on either wing, scored 14 goals in 49 matches for Donetsk in the past two seasons after moving from Santos for £5.2 million in 2004, the year in which he made his Brazil debut.

City also hope to land Giorgio Chiellini, the Juventus defender who is valued at about £7 million. The Italy Under21 captain played against England in the inaugural match at the new Wembley Stadium last season. He would join Rolando Bianchi, the former Italy Under21 forward, who arrived from Reggina for a little less than £9 million. Eriksson has also signed Gelson Fernandes, the Switzerland Under21 midfield player, from FC Sion, and Geovanni, the former Barcelona midfield player, from Cruzeiro.