With Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry looking in need of a rest, another defensive midfielder would be handy with  Patrick Vieira yet to prove his fitness. Flamini, like Vieira, would be coming to City seeking first team football in a bid to make the French world cup squad.

Flamini often played at right-back for Milan last season, even though he didn’t like it, and Mancini is said to see him as an alternative to Zabaleta and Richards.

He was considered a utility player in his early years at Arsenal before having an impressive last season playing as a midfield anchor, giving Fabregas license to venture forward. Wenger didn’t want to lose him, but Milan offered him generous terms on a Bosman.

It’s claimed that City would take him initially on loan, with the option of a permanent deal at the end of the season. This makes sense as the Frenchman hasn’t had an overly successful time in Italy, and he would need to prove he is better than the players we already have.

Buying players better than we already possess isn’t easy during the January window, and the club has already indicated big deals are now more likely to be made in the Summer. My personal feeling is that Mancini is being allowed to tweak the squad as he sees fit, in a bid to gain a Champions League place. If we achieve that, then serious money could be spent on world-class players who would be more willing to join a club in Europe’s premier club competition. We’ve been interested in Torres before, and we would be again.

Update: AC Milan sporting director Ariedo Braida has played down the possible transfer saying “for the time being, there has been no official offer, interest or talks between AC Milan and Manchester City.”

• Would you like to see Flamini join City?