Manchester City coach Sven Goran Eriksson has decided to contract Bulgarian star Martin Petrov.

Eriksson was ready to pay Petrov's current team Atletico Madrid six million pounds, UK newspaper the Mirror reported.

"City are close to seeing off Tottenham and agreeing a fee for the left-sided ace who will fill a problem position in their squad," the Mirror said.

According to the News of The World, Petrov himself would prefer to transfer to Manchester City, rather than playing for Tottenham.

Soccer365.com said that Manchester City had "reportedly beaten off competition from Tottenham to sign Atletico Madrid winger Martin Petrov".