Manchester City are in contact with Borussia Dortmund for striker Lucas Barrios.
The Daily Mail says Real Madrid have sounded out the Bundesliga side about the Paraguay international, only to be told that City were showing strong interest in a player who has hit 13 goals in 23 games this season.
Liverpool and AC Milan have also been linked with the 26-year-old, who is nicknamed La Pantera - The Panther - for his predatory qualities in the box.
City are interested in signing Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko from Wolfsburg regardless of Carlos Tevez's future, but they also face competition for him from Madrid and Juventus.
Barrios is another handful, standing at 6ft 2in and looking built for the Barclays Premier League. He would also be relatively cheap, with the bidding expected to start at about £15million.
His goals have helped Dortmund stack up a surprise 11-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, but the club are seen as vulnerable to bids for their top players.
