Roberto Mancini has already moved to strengthen his midfield by
signing former Arsenal star Patrick Vieira from Inter Milan.
With the 33-year-old France international only guaranteed a deal
to the end of the season, new Eastlands boss Mancini could see Gago
as providing bite to the City midfield in the longer term.
Battler: Real Madrid growler Gago could be heading
to Eastlands
Madrid are prepared to listen to offers for the 23-year-old as
they try to recoup some of the £265million they spent in the
summer.
Bernabeu boss Manuel Pellegrini is reluctant to let the
Argentina international go, but Gago is unhappy at falling behind
the likes of Lassana Diarra and Esteban Granero in the pecking
order.
Gago played 90 minutes in Madrid's 2-0 win against Mallorca on
Sunday, but that was only his third start of the season in La
Liga.
It is believed that his agent Marcelo Lombilla has tried to
engineer the holding midfielder's return to Boca Juniors, where
Gago came through the ranks before securing a £13.7m move to Madrid
three years ago.
Lombilla has reportedly told Boca coach Alfio Basile that Gago
would be keen on a return to Buenos Aires, but Madrid'd demands
could scupper a deal.
The Spanish giants are believed to want £7.5m and are reluctant
to accept a short-term deal, while Boca are unlikely to be able to
commit to anything other than a loan deal up to the World Cup
finals.
Reinforcements: City chief Mancini has already
signed Vieira
Gago fears for his place in the Argentina team while he is on
the fringes at Madrid and it is said that a return to his homeland
is his preferred option, despite the reported interest from City
and Juventus.
Neither Mancini's high-fliers nor the Italians have made formal
approaches, but they are both said to be sounding out Madrid.
Everton have also shown an interest in taking Gago on loan.
