THE battle for control of the Blues has taken a new twist.

Ex-player Ray Ranson, now a millionaire businessman, is behind a é70m move for control.

But he remains an outsider and it is looking increasingly likely the US front-runners will eventually be the new owners.

Ranson, who unsuccessfully tried to buy Aston Villa before American Randy Lerner took over, has, it is understood, had a lukewarm response at the City of Manchester Stadium.

More talks are planned with the mystery Americans later this week, after today's board meeting at City has been given an update on the takeover saga.

Hush-hush

The Americans have been checked out - along with all four would-be investors - and would not saddle City with debt and the hush-hush talks with them are now set to move from the "preliminary stage'' to more advanced discussions.

Chairman John Wardle and his ex-business partner David Makin, who are the biggest shareholders with almost 30 per cent, are determined that, if they do sell up, the club is left in the best possible hands.

Wardle is determined that the new investors do make extra money - at least é10m - available to boss Stuart Pearce to bolster the playing squad in the summer.

Ranson, who owns sport stats company Pro-zone and regularly watches City at Eastlands, is now said to be considering his options after he was approached about fronting an approach by a British consortium.

Ex-chairman David Bernstein is not involved in any of the four groups.

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