Manchester City are interested in Barcelona star Samuel Eto'o.
BBC Sport says City and Barcelona officials met on Monday and discussed the possible transfer of Eto'o to Eastlands.
Although it was billed as a contact-building exercise, the chance of a deal for £40m-rated Cameroon striker Eto'o formed part of their discussions.
City certainly have the ambition and financial clout to lure the likes of Eto'o since their takeover last September by the Abu Dhabi United Group, backed by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
But the club will not figure in next season's Champions League and are by no means guaranteed a place in the new Europa League.