Manchester City are tracking Valencia’s newly-capped Spanish international defender Jordi Alba.
The 22-year-old, who has established himself as one of the hottest properties in La Liga, after being released by Barcelona because he was deemed too small, has been monitored by City scouts this season.
Roberto Mancini has been told that cash will be made available for recruits when the transfer widow reopens in January.
And the City boss sees left-back as potentially a problem position.
Gael Clichy has been outstanding since his £7million arrival from Arsenal in the summer, but Aleksandar Kolarov has struggled to cope with the pace of the Premier League when he has stepped in.
That wouldn’t be a problem for Alba, who has lightning speed and is the kind of attack-minded full-back that Mancini favours.
Manchester United have also been linked with Alba, with manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the market for a long-term replacement for Patrice Evra.
But United lost out to City when Valencia decided to cash in on David Silva in the summer of 2010.
And if Valencia can be tempted to sell the latest young talent to emerge at the Mestalla then the Blues’ financial power will give them the edge over their Mancunian rivals.
Alba was released by his hometown club Barca in 2005 — and it is a decision that the European champions have come to regret.
He was snapped up by Cornella, a Catalan club playing in the Spanish fourth division before moving back into La Liga with Valencia two years later.
Alba can also operate as a left-sided midfielder, but made his Spain debut in defence in the 3-1 win over Scotland last month.
