KIEV, Ukraine (Reuters) -- Dynamo Kiev has held talks with former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson about taking charge of the struggling Ukrainian premier league side, local media reported on Monday.

The daily Sport-Express said the Swede, who left the England job in July after the team's disappointing quarterfinal World Cup showing, was in Kiev last week to meet Dynamo boss Ihor Surkis.

Eriksson has been linked with several European clubs in the past few months, although he has denied holding any negotiations.

Dynamo were unavailable for comment on Monday.

Though Dynamo tops the Ukrainian league table, three points ahead of archrival Shakhtar Donetsk, it has had a disappointing European season.

Dynamo, Ukraine's most popular and successful club, has lost all four of its Champions League matches, conceding 13 goals and scoring only two.

Despite its poor showing in Europe, Surkis has backed under-fire Dynamo coach Anatoly Demyanenko.

"I can say I trust Demyanenko more than I ever trusted anyone else," Surkis said last week.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.