Are Manchester City about to make French Ligue 1 team a feeder club?

Manchester City are close to agreeing a partnership with a French club.

The Sunday People reported the deal is imminent and will give the Premier League champions first option to purchase Saint Etienne's players, while also allowing City to send players on loan to the club. 'Our sporting director Dominique Rocheteau has already met Manchester City’s people five times,' said Saint Etienne president Bernard Caiazzo. 'It all looks very serious. City have been impressed by our talent for producing players of Champions League standard. Name me another club that has yielded as many players in the past 18 months who are regulars for top sides in Europe.' Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma came through the ranks at the Ligue 1 side, and will the partnership will be another tool for City to help fall in line with Uefa's Financial Fair Play regulations. [Hat-tip The Mirror]