Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini plans to launch an £8 million offer for AS Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi.
De Rossi is still refusing to agree new terms with Roma.
And The Sun says Mancini has received encouraging signals from his Italian contacts that tough-tackling De Rossi, out of contract next year has had his head turned by City.
Roma put a £25m price tag on the player and in the summer Mancini said: "De Rossi would be absolutely perfect. I rate him one of the best midfielders in the world."
It was previously thought De Rossi would never leave the Italian capital but Roma are refusing to be held to ransom over his demands for £170,000 a week.
