The Liverpool battler's long-term future at Anfield remains uncertain as the Reds continue to stall over making his deal permanent and according to Wednesday's papers, City are now in the picture.
Manchester City are reportedly set to make a £17million move for Argentina midfield terrier Javier Mascherano in January's transfer window.
The Daily Star claims a meeting took place between one of Mascherano's advisors and a close associate of City owner Thaksin Shinawatra last week.
Mascherano is owned by a consortium headed by Kia Joorabchian and the deal which took him from West Ham to Liverpool is due to run out at the end of the season - at which point the Daily Star claims Liverpool would have to cough up £17million to keep him at the club.
But City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has pinpointed the 23-year-old as one of his primary targets and the Eastlands outfit could even attempt to conclude a deal which would see him complete his move in January.