City weigh up branching out into China or South America

CITY are considering expanding their global empire of clubs.

The City Football Group, which also owns New York City FC and Melbourne City, as well having a share in Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos, is assessing a number of potential new locations.

The Chinese Super League has been identified as a market of potential, while there have also been reports of a possible move into South America.

Tom Glick, CFG chief commercial officer, said: “The important thing for us is to add the right clubs in the right cities, in the right leagues. We are open to this.

“There are a number of leagues and countries that are quite interesting. It is certainly something we are focused on. We are equally focused on making sure each of our current clubs Manchester, New York, Melbourne, Yokohama, are performing at their highest level.”

Glick was speaking in Manchester at an event to announce Korean tyre manufacturer Nexen Tire, a partner since 2015, as City’s new shirt sleeve sponsor. City are the first club in the Premier League to establish such an arrangement, which will be allowed in the competition from the start of the 2017-18 season.

Glick said: “We feel fortunate that Nexen Tire not only want to continue with us but want to intensify and elevate their investment.”