Mutu, Flamini and Gago all on Mancini’s wish list

Former Chelsea bad boy Adrian Mutu might be about to return to English football with Manchester City. Several British papers report that the 31-year-old Romanian striker is set to leave Fiorentina for Eastlands.

Giovanni Becali, Mutu's agent, is quoted in the Daily Express as saying: "I will be in Italy for the final week of the transfer market. [Roberto] Mancini strongly wants him at Manchester City and said that he would be an ideal player for his team"

Mutu's problems began a year after he joined Chelsea on a £15m deal in 2003. A positive test for cocaine use resulted in dismissal from Stamford Bridge and a seven-month worldwide football ban. Mutu then joined Italian giants Juventus in January 2005 before linking up with Fiorentina the following year.

Mutu's stock has soared this season as he has refound his goal-scoring form. He scored twice for Fiorentina in this week's 3-2 victory against Lazio in the quarter-final of the Italian cup and his agent says: "There are several clubs interested in Mutu, clubs that would definitely allow him to increase his wages. There are clubs keen on the player from Russia, Turkey but especially England."

In May 2008 Mutu was ordered to pay Chelsea €17,173,990 in compensation for breach of contract, a fine the Romanian appealed at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Twice the appeal was rejected but Mutu lodged a third appeal to the Swiss Court of Appeal in late 2009.

Mutu is not the only player City are monitoring. A host of targets have been outed after Mancini spoke to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport.

His targets are said to include Rubin Kazan's Argentine full back Cristian Ansaldi, Fernando Gago of Real Madrid and Mathieu Flamini of AC Milan.

The City boss told the paper: "I need players. Perhaps Real Madrid will give me Gago, maybe Milan (will give me) Flamini..."

Another name being linked with City is that of 18-year-old Lyon striker Ishak Belfodil. The six foot three hitman has played less than 45 minutes of top level football this season but is highly-rated and has also attracted the interest of Chelsea.

In Spain the Sergio Canales saga rumbles on. The player's father and agent, Gelo Canales, has told the Spanish paper AS that his son is likely to snub the overtures of several Premier League clubs and join Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Canales Snr said that Chelsea and Manchester City had made attractive offers for his son. He has also reportedly spoken to Arsenal about Sergio's future, but maintains that Real Madrid are head of the queue.

Canales, 18, is one of the hottest properties in European football and contract with Racing Santander expires in the summer at which point he is likely to move to a bigger club.

The Scottish Sun says that Aston Villa "have opened talks" with Rangers about the possibility of signing striker Kris Boyd. According to the paper, the 26-year-old Boyd has already had intensive discussions with Villa boss Martin O'Neill and a move is imminent.

Rangers have offered Boyd – the SPL's record goal-scorer – a three-year deal worth £18,000 a week but he is being tempted to Villa Park by O'Neill and the prospect of testing himself against the world's best. The Sun says that after the negotiations were concluded with Aston Villa, Boyd was a VIP guest at the thrilling Carling Cup semi-final that saw Villa defeat Blackburn 6-4 and book a Wembley date

In other news the Mirror says that Birmingham will have to find £11m if they want to sign Celtic winger Aiden McGeady. The 23-year-old is keen to taste Premier League football and Blues boss Alex McLeish has the money to make McGeady's dream come true thanks to Birmingham's new owner Carson Yeung. But an offer of £8m has already been rebuffed by the Scottish giants so it now depends on whether McLeish believes McGeady is worth another three million.

The paper says Celtic have indicated they would be willing to sell their "prized asset" and says that Birmingham would be able to pay the Republic of Ireland star £35,000-a-week without causing resentment in the close-knit Birmingham dressing room.

McGeady made his international debut in 2004 and in 2008 won the SPFA Player of the Year award and the Young Player of the Year award. He is only the second player to achieve the feat. ·