Man City hopeful of Ronaldinho

English Premier League club Manchester City say they are hopeful Brazilian striker Ronaldinho will be playing for them next season.

The club are also confident of securing a deal for CSKA Moscow's Brazilian striker Jo in the coming week.

Speaking on BBC Radio on Sunday, the club's chairman Garry Cook said Barcelona had given City clearance to talk to Ronaldinho over a switch to England.

"It's at a tenuous stage and I don't want to give too much away," Cook said. "We had some people in Brazil this weekend, who we've been talking to, but we have a long, long list of things we need to get done because of the type of player he is -- the world's greatest player.

"We are nowhere near completing (a deal) but Ronaldinho wants to show that he is one of the greatest footballers in the world. The Manchester City fans would love to see him kick off the new season with us and I am holding out hope on that happening."

Cook said negotiations for Jo were much further advanced.

"I think we will be taking care of that one pretty quickly. It might be within the next seven days, sooner if possible," he said.

Former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, 28, has been told he is free to leave Barcelona after a disappointing season at the Nou Camp.

Manchester City, owned by former Thai Prime Minsister Thaksin Shinawatra, named Mark Hughes as their new manager this week after Sven-Goran Eriksson left by mutual consent on Monday.