Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is facing frustration in his search for a new centre-half.

Liverpool's £30 million asking price for Daniel Agger has ensured the end of City's interest in the Danish defender, while rumoured interest in Tottenham's Michael Dawson and Chelsea's David Luiz is wide of the mark, says the Telegraph.

But having offloaded Emmanuel Adebayor's £165,000-a-week wages with his £4 million sale to Tottenham Hotspur and Johnson soon to go, City can move quickly next week.

"We will do something in this week," Mancini said. "I think we need to improve for the Champions League. The reason I want to improve the squad now is because I want to improve for the Champions League.

"How many more? The same number of players we asked for when we won the championship in May. Maybe two or three more."