Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wants to buy two central defenders this month.

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.

The Daily Express says City are ready to press the button on a £25m joint swoop for West Ham's Matthew Upson and Borussia Dortmund's Neven Subotic.

Serbia international Subotic was a target for Mancini at Inter Milan and is regarded among the best young centre-halves on the continent.