Inter Milan chief Marco Branca is in line for a return to England - at Manchester City.
The former Middlesbrough striker is viewed by City manager Roberto Mancini as the ideal replacement for chief executive Garry Cook, who resigned last week.
The Mail on Sunday says Branca played with Mancini at Sampdoria and was also sporting director at Inter when they won three Serie A titles.
He scored nine goals in 11 games for Middlesbrough in 1998 towards the end of his playing career.
John Macbeath, a City director for 18 months, is currently the acting chief executive.
