THAKSIN Shinawatra is ready to bust the City budget for A-list stars.

Bolton's City old boy Nicolas Anelka and Inter's Brazilian striker Adriano are the two men most prominent on Sven-Goran Eriksson's radar, though he could yet switch his sights back to one of his fellow Swedes Johan Elmander if, as expected, Liverpool end Toulouse's Champions League aspirations tonight.

Despite spending nearly £40m and adding approaching half that much again to the wage bill since he took over, Eriksson is determined not to let the fast start to the season disappear for the want of top class attacking depth.

And with £6m buy Valeri Bojinov out injured until the spring, the manager is keen to persuade the board, who wanted him to sell before buying again, that a replacement is needed.

Anelka, who spent more than two seasons with the Blues, scoring 38 goals in 87 Premier League games, is someone Eriksson admires and the newly-married 28-year-old Frenchman is said to be keen to stay in the North West.

Interest

With United's interest seemingly lukewarm and Portsmouth not as upwardly mobile, a move back to the Blues, where he was idolised by fans, may suit Anelka.

However, there remains the stumbling block of a £9m fee that would be the highest Eriksson has splashed out.

The manager has other options in Adriano and Elmander.

With question marks in Italy over the 25-year-old Brazilian's attitude, clubs would look to take Adriano, who has scored 25 goals in 37 games for Brazil, on loan.

But that prospect is unlikely after representative Gilmar Rinaldi said his client is not considering a temporary move.

Meanwhile 26-year-old Sweden striker Elmander will be a legitimate target once his French side are no longer in the Champions League.

Toulouse want around £8m for their prized asset who has turned down a contract extension and told them of his 'dream' to play in England.

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