Manchester City have approached West Ham United about the availability of defender Matthew Upson.
The Guardian says City have approached West Ham for Upson, amid a growing sense that Everton are not to going to allow Joleon Lescott to leave Goodison Park.
City's manager, Mark Hughes, has identified Upson as the next option. Sylvain Distin, the former City defender who is now at Portsmouth, is also a possibility but Hughes would prefer Upson and the club are considering lodging an official bid for the England centre-back.