{image-avram grant_27052008.jpg news.oneindia.in}London, May 27: Israeli football coach Avram Grant, who was unceremoniously sacked by the management of the Chelsea Football Club last week after the team's loss in the final of the European Champions League in Moscow, is leading the race to be the next manager of Manchester City.

Owner and former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is set to make an offer to Grant, reports The Sun. Portugal chief Luiz Felipe Scolari is also in the frame, but a source close to the deal said: "Thaksin has made no secret of his wish to employ Scolari, but he's going cold on that deal. Replacing Sven Goran Eriksson has stirred up a hornet's nest, but Grant's achievements at Chelsea make him a very credible successor.

The first talks with Grant took place immediately after Chelsea beat Liverpool to make the Champions League final.

Shinawatra met Grant's agent Pini Zahavi at Stamford Bridge the night of the Liverpool game. Shinawatra is understood to like the idea that a manager who has run Manchester United so close in the Premier League and European Cup could replace Eriksson.

Grant, however, needs to agree to his Chelsea pay-off before getting into talks with City.

And he could reveal secrets of his time at Chelsea unless he gets the money he wants as he has yet to agree to a 'gagging clause' with the Blues as part of his compensation.

Grant has so far been offered around 4.8 million pounds of the 7.2 million pounds his contract would have paid.

ANI