CITY are close to signing Italian striker Rolando Bianchi after agreeing a fee with his current club Reggina.

The 24-year-old, who scored 18 goals in Serie A last season, is to undergo a medical at City’s Carrington training ground today.

Bianchi, who has played for the Azzurri at under-21 level, would be City’s first signing since Sven-Goran Eriksson’s appointment as manager.

Reggina claim the fee for Bianchi is £8.8million, though City have not disclosed the agreed price.

The Italian club’s president Pasquale Foti told gazzetta.it: “The negotiations are going forward and there is a willingness for an agreement.

“There are no problems at the moment and I think it will be shortly concluded.”

Eriksson is hopeful the deal can be completed for Bianchi to be a City player by the time of the club’s first pre-season friendly at Doncaster on Saturday.

Bianchi would not be involved at the Keepmoat Stadium but at least a swift conclusion to the transfer - Eriksson’s first since he succeeded Stuart Pearce as manager last week - would allow the Italian to have a couple of training sessions with his new team-mates before they depart for a two-game tour of Sweden next Wednesday.

Eriksson has made it a priority to bring in striking reinforcements - City scored just 29 goals last season.Check back for developments.