Following rumours in the Hazard thread.........
--------------------------------------------------

The Premier League big spenders will listen to offers for Aleksandar Kolarov at the end of the season and regard France Under-18 international Digne as a potential replacement.

City's global ambassador Patrick Vieira has scouted the 18-year-old on a number of occasions in recent months and recommended him highly to manager Roberto Mancini, as had the club’s former technical director Mike Rigg, who resigned on Friday.

Digne broke into the Lille first team last October and has established a burgeoning reputation in his homeland, where he has been tipped to become France’s future left-back since making his full league debut in February.

He has added attraction for City because, like Kolarov, he can also operate on the left side of midfield.

Although the teenager recently signed a new contract that runs until 2016, City have the means to offer greatly improved financial terms to Digne.

The Premier League club regard the Frenchman as potential back-up to Gael Clichy while he is groomed for a long-term regular starting place.

Like Belgian superstar Eden Hazard, Digne is a product of the Lille academy and regarded as mature beyond his years.

Mancini made no attempt to hide his admiration of Hazard after he was spotted last month making a personal check on the £30m-rated playmaker.

But City sources believe a swoop for Digne is far more straightforward than landing Hazard, who is also coveted by most of Europe’s elite clubs.

Kolarov is likely to be sold to free up space on the wage-bill and in the first-team squad for Digne.

The Serbian, a £17m signing from Lazio in the summer of 2010, has started only nine Premier League matches for City this season, while Clichy has made 21 starts and a total of 28 in all competitions.

if he's that good i'd like him, but don't want to sell Kolarov, played well this year...mostly ;)

I don't think he'd be an instant replacement for Kolarov as he's only just starting to break through at Lille. Probably Zaba as second choice left-back until Digne is deemed ready? Sounds like a good investment, him for the left and Nathaniel Clyne for the right (Micah understudy)?

Maybe he's been the primary scouting target all along when Mancini visited.

i agree with this tbh, with regards to digne hes something special for me hes very versatile and played a number of positions for lille youth team which makes him even more valuable and i believe he could go to the euros its a long shot but i wouldnt be suprised, would love this signing hopefully we can form some sort of partnership with lille and get a first look with some of their best talent. i wouldnt be suprised if we were interested in kylian hazard aswell.

I'm not too keen on Kolarov leaving, think he's a very valuable asset when teams sit back as he's shown recently. However, if Kolarov was to want a move back to Italy or if Bob doesn't want him any more then this could work very well. having Micah/Clichy first choice with Zab 2nd choice as both LB and RB with Digne and Clyne able to come in if 2 of the above are both injured. Kolo can obviously also play RB if shit really goes bad.

looked very good tonight against England, if Kola goes he would be an excellent back up to Clichy.

I don't want him to leave but if it is for a good sum we should let Kolarov go.

Bring this lad in as Clichys backup. However if Clichy does get injured move Zaba to LB whilst Digne gets more experience before being Clichys rotation partner in 2 years time.

If alex leaves this guy would be ideal for us, young but good enough to cover if clichy gets injured (always got zabba to help aswell). The boy has talent, good defender who is good at getting forward, needs improovment defensive wise but with experience of working under mancini he would become class.

Can't see Bobby letting him go unless we have a replacement lined up and just waiting to sign on the dotted line. This is a position we have struggled with in the past and only fools make the same mistake twice and Bobby is no fool.