Manchester City Set To Bid For Spanish Star - Report

Manchester City are looking for a top centre-back to solve their defensive issues and reports claim that they are keen to make a bid for Barcelona star Gerard Pique.

Pique has a year and a half remaining on his contract with Barcelona and he is currently in talks with the Spanish giant to renew. The Spanish international defender is a key player for the Catalan side but some Spanish pundits suggest that he has been far from his peak during the last year and the club are considering signing another centre-back next summer.

French radio station Radio Montecarlo claims that Manchester City will make an offer for Pique, hoping to take advantage of his current contract situation at Barcelona.

Reports add that manager Manuel Pellegrini has been monitoring Pique for a long time as the City boss knows him well from his coaching tenure in La Liga.

Manchester City have already four centre-backs in their ranks - Vincent Kompany, Matija Nastasic, Joleon Lescott and Martin Demichelis - but Pellegrini has had many problems forging a regular defensive partnership this season as it looks that he does not trust in Lescott while Kompany and Nastasic have suffered long-term injuries.

Pique emerged from the Barcelona academy but he joined Manchester United when he was a teenager. However, he struggled to play under Sir Alex Ferguson and in the summer of 2008 the centre-back rejoined Barcelona for a bargain price of £4.5m.

Since his return to La Liga the Spaniard has become one of the best defenders in the world, helping Barca to conquer two Champions league and four domestic leagues. Furthermore, he has won the European Championship and World Cup with Spain.