May 8, 2008 5:53 PM
SOURCE:
goal.com
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Eriksson Confirms Benfica Talks
Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson has confirmed that he met with Benfica officials on Wednesday.
With speculation intensifying about Sven Goran Eriksson's future at Manchester City - the consensus being that it is very short-term - Portuguese giants Benfica are said to be desperate to persuade the Swede back to Lisbon.
Eriksson has already enjoyed two very successful spells at the Stadium of Light (1982-84 and 1989-92), winning three Portuguese Liga titles and one Cup for Benfica, and taking them to two European finals.
The Lisbon Eagles are making no comment as yet on the current talks - although their delegation, including president Luis Filipe Vieira and captain Manuel Rui Costa, were pictured by the English media in Manchester on Wednesday.
Eriksson is willing to listen to Benfica after City owner Thaksin Shinawatra reportedly informed him he would be fired at the end of the season after the Manchester side failed to maintain their excellent early-season momentum and endured a disappointing second-half to their Premier League campaign.
City's fans are protestiing angrily against Thaksin's treatment of Eriksson, but the Thai owner seems set on ploughing ahead with his plan to replace the Swede with Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Because of that, Eriksson is now attracting interest from around the world, with Benfica wasting no time in approaching him about a third stint at Lisbon.
Eriksson confirmed that a meeting took place, telling the Daily Mail: "I've had a meeting with the Benfica people.
"I'm considering an offer and it will be a step forward in my career. Let's see what happens."
Portuguese sources have revealed that Benfica have offered Erikssin a three-year deal to take th helm on a salary of 200,000 euros per-month.
Benfica have apparently given Eriksson a two-week deadline to take or leave their offer, and have also told him they want Carlos Mozer to be employed as his assistant.
