Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is seeking a defensive utility signing.

The Manchester Evening News says Mancini wants a player who can play centre-back and in midfield, hence the Blues' interest in Roma's Daniele de Rossi and Athletic Bilbao's Javi Martinez, each proficient in both positions.

He has one such player in Yaya, but the Ivorian will again head off on international duty in January, to tear a big chunk from the middle of City's season.

The ongoing uncertainty over Nigel de Jong's future at City - he has yet to sign an extension to a contract which expires next summer - does not help.