Man City hope to land Barcelona star in part-exchange deal

As they prepare to defend the Premier League title for the first time next season, Manchester City are being linked with a host of world class talent to potentially improve their squad.

There aren’t many better right-backs on the planet than Dani Alves, and the Brazilian full-back is on Roberto Mancini’s radar again, after a move last summer failed to materialise.

Alves has enjoyed a trophy laden spell at Barcelona, since joining the club from Sevilla in 2008, and winning 13 trophies in his Nou Camp tenure.

Now though, with boss Pep Guardiola set to relinquish control of the Catalan giants, the time could be right for the energetic full-back to move on too.

City are waiting in the wings, and knowledgeable of Barca’s lack of depth in a left-back capacity, are ready to include Aleksandar Kolarov as a makeweight in any deal.

Reports in Spain claim that City have tabled a £12million bid for Alves, and also offered the services of Kolarov as part of the agreement.

The unfortunate early retirement of Eric Abidal has further accentuated Barca’s need for a left-sided defender, and so they could be tempted to do business with the Premier League champions, despite a reluctance to lose Alves.

Now 29, Brazil star Alves remains one of the world’s hottest properties in both a defensive and attacking capacity, with his lung-bursting runs epitomising the modern full-back.

Mancini believes his dynamic style would be well-suited to the Premier League, and is keen to land a marquee signing to aid City’s Champions League efforts next term.

“Barcelona and Real Madrid every year buy two or three players and spend a lot of money,” Mancini told Spanish newspaper Sport.

“I think for Manchester City it will be the same. We need to improve. We need to have the strength to play Champions League and Premier League.”