Manchester City are strengthening their ties with France's Toulouse.

There is talk of City taking a 20 per cent stake in the club as they seek to establish a formal French partner - just as they have with Girona in the LaLiga.

Key to the deal is former TFC coach Erick Mombaerts, who has been coaching in Japan for City partners Yokohama Marinos.

"I have just returned to France after an extraordinary experience in Japan where I was coaching Yokohama, a club owned by Manchester City Football Group," he told La Dépêche du Midi.

"For now, there is nothing concrete. The only concrete thing is that I put the TFC officials in touch with City.

"Manchester City, like other big clubs, needs to loan young players so they can grow. Most of the players trained in these teams need additional training time, an intermediate level. It is just in this respect that I spoke to the TFC."