Sven Goran Eriksson has intimated he could be willing to instigate Nicolas Anelka's return to Manchester City.

While Bolton have endured a miserable campaign in the wake of Sam Allardyce's departure, Anelka has on the contrary been in top form.

Anelka left City just under three years ago but it now looks as though a return to the club could be on the cards in the New Year.

"Anelka is very good," Eriksson told the Sunday Mirror>/i>.p> "His pace and ability are fantastic. He is a player who I almost bought for Lazio."

"When he left Arsenal, I was sitting in the home of David Dein with Arsene Wenger for a full day hoping to do a deal.

"I was also with Lazio's directors, but in the end it didn't happen because Real Madrid came in."