Manchester City will flex their financial muscles to convince Lyon to sell Yoan Gourcuff.
The People says City boss Roberto Mancini backed away from signing Gourcuff, 24, in the summer having recruited David Silva for £27m.
But City's Italian boss believes the Blues need more creative options - and his scouts have again started watching Gourcuff, who played for France in their 2-1 win against England last month.
City know his transfer from Bordeaux to Lyon is structured into three payments, the last being in December 2012.
And it's a sign of their incredible wealth that they could look to wipe out that debt and give Lyon a profit to buy a player out of a five-year contract that's just three months old.
