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City weigh up January Suarez swoop - reports

Luis Suarez is the Premier League's joint-top scorer with eight goals this season © PA Photos

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is hoping to prise striker Luis Suarez away from Liverpool in the January transfer window, according to widespread reports.

Mancini hopes the club will back him with a bid for the Uruguay international despite the recent appointment of former Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain to oversee the Premier League champions' transfer policy.

A report in the Daily Express, since picked up by most of England's other national newspapers, claims Mancini wants the 25-year-old despite already having Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli on his books.

Mancini is under pressure following a poor Champions League campaign which looks destined to end in failure to qualify for the knockout stages for second successive season.

Backing him with an audacious and sizeable bid for Suarez would be seen as a clear sign that the City hierarchy are fully behind the Italian.

Suarez is on a long-term contract at Anfield, which runs until 2018, meaning City could have to stump up a British record fee to sign him.

He has been in sparkling form for the Reds this season, scoring eight Premier League goals to put him alongside Manchester United's Robin van Persie at the top of the scoring charts.

Liverpool would understandably be unwilling to sell their star man, who is currently their only dedicated striker with Fabio Borini out injured and Andy Carroll on loan at West Ham with little prospect of a return to Merseyside.

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has called for further investment in the squad at the next available opportunity. However, Liverpool have previously been persuaded to sell their main striker midway through the season if the price is right, having sold Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50 million in January 2010.

City are the only side still unbeaten in the Premier League this season but are currently in second place, two points behind Manchester United. United have scored 29 league goals so far compared with City's 20, while Chelsea, Everton and Fulham have all scored more than the defending champions.

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