Manchester City have been in contact with former Arsenal and Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell.

The Daily Express says City are understood to have approached Campbell to see if he would be interested in a short-term deal.

City are desperate for defensive reinforcements with Joleon Lescott sidelined for another month with a knee ligament injury, Kolo Toure now away at the African Nations Cup and Nedum Onuoha also injured.

Campbell, who became available to play again when the transfer window opened yesterday after breaking his contract with Notts County earlier this season, would be keen to resurrect his career at City, even if it was only to the end of the season.