Juan Carlos Padilla claims that the Swede has already agreed terms on a two-year deal to lead Mexico to the 2010 World Cup, and that the offer is the former England manager's number one choice as his Eastlands future looks in increasing doubt.

"We already know what the Mexican FA are looking for - we'll accept their terms if they call us again," Padilla told Mexican newspaper La Jornada from Manchester.

"If the Mexican FA decide to take him, he will be their coach and the Mexican national team will be his number one choice.

"It's a contract up to and including the next World Cup, after that we'll see what happens. But for the moment it's a two-year contract."

Padilla rubbished suggestions that Eriksson, who has managed in Italy and Portugal, would have trouble adapting to life in Central America.

"Eriksson speaks five languages. He speaks Portuguese, Italian, English, Swedish and German," he said.

"So if you take Portuguese and Italian, put them together and exert a bit of effort, you can speak Spanish in two months. So there'll be no language barrier.

He added: "He wants to have many Mexicans involved, such as team doctors, physios, etc.

"He knows he has to adapt to the culture, not that it has to adapt to him."

The City boss is currently on a post-season tour of Asia with the English Premier League side, and has remained tight-lipped about his future throughout.

But Padilla claims the famously calm Swede is excited about taking on the role, and has already shown an admiration for Mexican football.

"Eriksson is very excited," he insisted.

"He knows a lot of the (Mexican) players there (in Europe), in fact there has been talk of Manchester City's interest in two Mexican players whose names I can't give."

Padilla dismissed claims that Mexican FA had unrealistic expectations of the man who coached England to the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.

"They haven't asked us to win the World Cup," he said. "Just to put up a good performance."