City take defender on trial

Another player arriving at the club today is Italian defender Francesco Coco, who has been handed a one week trial at the club.

Coco, still just 30 has a good pedigree in the game having signed for Milan as a youngster as an heir apparant to Paolo Maldini. Things did not quite pan out at Milan, but he spent time on loan at Torino and Barcelona before making a permanent switch to Inter (in exchange for Clarence Seedorf) and earning 17 Italian caps in the process.

Struggling with injuries at Inter, he has never been in favour with coach Roberto Mancini and spent last season on loan at Livorno before falling further behind in the pecking order following the signing of Fabio Grosso.

For me, he could be an interesting signing as he can play left back and a more advanced role and I see him as the ideal player on the left side in Pearce's 3-5-2 formation and he shouldn't command too much of a fee to make the move permanent.

Injury history could count against him, but I think he could be worth a contract to the end of the season at least and if things work out he will be a very useful acquisition.

If things don't work out, he could be a headline writers dream.