28.08.2013 05:48 h

Football: Man City deny Aussie club interest

Shinji Ono (l.) samen met Dino Kresinger (r.) na de overwinning op Brisbane Roar. (12-4-2013)
Shinji Ono (l.) samen met Dino Kresinger (r.) na de overwinning op Brisbane Roar. (12-4-2013)

English Premier League heavyweights Manchester City have denied reports they are considering a bid for Australian A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers.

The Australian Financial Review reported this week that City were one of two English clubs -- the other unnamed -- that had made preliminary enquiries about either buying a stake in the Wanderers, or the whole club.

But City denied any interest.

"Contrary to media reports in Australia, Manchester City Football Club has expressed no interest whatsoever in the purchase of any stake in the Western Sydney Wanderers," a club spokesman told Wednesday's Sydney Daily Telegraph.

"Also contrary to reports, the club has not requested, nor has it received, any 50-page information document about the sale. The matter is not under consideration."

The Sydney team were only created last year, replacing Gold Coast United in Australia's domestic league, but they made a huge impact, attracting big crowds and making the grand final only to lose to Central Coast.

Football Federation Australia owns the club but wants to sell it to private interests, reportedly with a Aus$15 million (US$13.4 million) price tag, and has employed investment bank UBS to create a 50-page prospectus.

The Wanderers' marquee player is Japanese superstar Shinji Ono.