Along with several senior players, Manchester City also cut loose a number of their younger prospects last week.

Paul Dickov, Geovanni, Emile Mpenza and Jihai Sun are the senior players not to have been offered new contracts by the Club.

The other players released are Irish defender Garry Breen, fellow countryman Michael Daly, Filippo Mancini - son of former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini, striker Ashley Grimes, Faroe Isles Under 21 international Christian Mouritsen and finally young Italian goalkeeper Andrea Giombetti.

Grimes has already been snapped up by Millwall, while Breen is joining Hereford United.