Manchester City have opened talks with Sampdoria for striker Giampaolo Pazzini.

The Sun says the Italians have already KO'd moves from Manchester United and Chelsea but mega-rich City will not take no for an answer. New boss Roberto Mancini has handed City's owners a list of targets - and 25-year-old Pazzini is on it.

Mancini faces a battle to get his man as the striker only joined Samp in January from Spain's Fiorentina.

But Pazzini has been a revelation since his switch to Serie A, where he has averaged a goal every two games.