Villarreal midfielder Marcos Senna has welcomed interest from Manchester City.

He said: "I have heard about the big project at City and I'm flattered by their interest. The Premier League is a big league and I am interested in the challenge.

"It is complicated leaving Villarreal because I am excited by the season and we are still involved in the league and the Champions League. It would take an enormous proposition by City for me to leave but it is not impossible."

Senna was coveted by Sir Alex Ferguson two years ago prior to Owen Hargreaves' arrival at Manchester United. It would take a lot of money to prise him from Villarreal but Hughes has identified a holding midfield player as a key position to strengthen next month. A City scout ran the rule over Senna and keeper Diego Lopez at Villarreal's La Liga game against Barcelona.

Villarreal sporting director Jose Manuel Llaneza said: "We have received no formal offers but in football nothing is impossible. If we get a big offer we would consider it."

Brazilian-born Senna has a contract until the summer of 2010.