SIX clubs, four continents. City's global reach is expanding thanks to their new worldwide network of football partnerships.

The Blues' deals with clubs in China, Switzerland, Thailand, Russia, South Africa and Australia is set to have far-reaching benefits on the playing and commercial sides.

The five clubs in partnership are Shanghai Shenhua, Grasshoppers, Chonburi, FC Moscow, Thanda Royal Zulu and Perth Glory.

Already the first signs of exactly how the new partnerships - a product of owner Thaksin Shinawtra's new regime - will work are starting to emerge, with three young players from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua set to come to City on trial.

Twenty-one-year-old striker Gao Lin, 19-year-old goalkeeper Wang Da Lei and 22-year-old midfielder Mao Jianqing are unlikely to be the last young overseas hopefuls to come through the doors at City's Carrington training complex.

They will follow in the footsteps of three players from Thailand Premier League side Chonburi FC - another of the five clubs City have joined forces with - who spent time with the Blues over the summer.

Impression

Full-back Suree Sukha, one of that Thai trio, is still expected to sign for City if the club can sort out a work permit for him, having left Chonburi to become a free agent.

Suree's former Chonburi team-mates Kiatprawut Saiwaeo, a 21-year-old defender, and 19-year-old striker Teerasil Dangda also made an impression when they trained with the club.

The vibes from the Far East are that Thai football can only benefit from the link-up, as it will give their best players a chance to step into the spotlight by trialing with a Premier League club.

Worawi Makudi, president of the Thailand Football Association, said: "I believe our football standard and player ability is as good as other countries.

"The only difference is that our players have not had the same opportunity as many others."

Speak to representatives of any of the five clubs who have signed up with City, and you can sense their excitement.

You can also sense just how big a name the Blues are overseas.

Australian A League side Perth Glory hope to benefit from the youth Academies that will be set up in Australia with the aim of bringing through young talent to benefit both clubs.

Deal

Glory co-owner John Spencer said: "We believe this type deal will greatly help the club and allow us to do some very exciting things.

"We could also tap into City's sports science and coaching set-ups to ensure best practice is applied here and we also anticipate having some of their players coming to Perth to play with the Glory.

"On the flip side, our players here will be given a platform to visit Manchester City during the off-season to help in their development and showcase their talent."

Glory already had a City connection in their ranks even before they signed the deal with the club.

Their captain Simon Colosimo played half-a-dozen games for the Blues during the First Division title-winning season of 2001/2002, having battled back from a serious knee injury.

Of the other four clubs, Shanghai Shenhua will perhaps be the most familiar to City supporters, as they faced Stuart Pearce's Blues during their pre-season trip to China in 2006.

The five clubs make for an intriguing mix. Both Shenhua and South African Premier League side Thanda Royal Zulu are in a period of transition after recent takeovers.

Shenhua have been merged with their city rivals Shanghai United after Zhu Jun - United's owner - bought a majority stake in February.

While Thanda Royal Zulu underwent a name change from Benoni Premier United, and uprooted to Durban from their former home just outside Johannesburg, when they were bought out by a Swedish consortium led by new chairman Johan Glennmo in the summer.

And there is a strong City connection here too, as one of Glennmo's first moves on assuming control was to bring in Sven-Goran Eriksson's son Johan to work alongside new boss Roger Palmgren.

Johan is only 27, but has already picked up a broad range of experience across several fields, having played Serie B football in Italy, studied sports psychology at university in the United States and worked as a golf caddy for fellow Swede Johna Edfors on the European tour.

Glennmo is excited about the link-up with City.

He said: "We are working to develop football in South Africa on many levels.

"The co-operation agreement with Manchester City is part of our efforts, and of course we are very proud to be working together with one of the world's best football clubs."

Potential

While Perth and Thanda are both struggling in their domestic leagues, it is clear that the Blues have signed up with clubs they feel have long-term potential.

And in the case of the fifth club they have joined up with, that potential is showing itself on the pitch too.

Russian Premier League side FC Moscow have qualified for next season's Intertoto Cup after fourth when the season ended last week ahead of the worst of the Russian winter.

It was the best performance in their history.

The true benefits of City's global partnership will not be seen next week, maybe not even next year.

But Shinawatra said he was in it for the long term when he took control at Sportcity over the summer. Now the first building blocks of the former Thai Prime Minister's plan have been put in place.