Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is seeking a deal for Blackburn Rovers fullback-cum-midfielder Stephen Warnock.

The Mirror says Sparky, who already has Warnock's team-mate Roque Santa Cruz on his January shopping list, is a huge admirer of the combative full-back and signed him from Liverpool in January 2007 when he was Rovers boss.

New Ewood Park chief Paul Ince would like to snap up City defender Nedum Onuoha, and Warnock could move the other way in a swap deal.