Stuart Pearce has confirmed that Manchester City are 'very
hopeful' of signing a new striker before the end of the transfer
window.
Georgios Samaras, Paul Dickov, Darius Vassell and Bernardo Corradi
have only contributed seven goals between them in the Premiership
this season and a new attacker is top of Pearce's agenda for
January.
Time for signing reinforcements is rapidly running out but City
appear confident of landing an unnamed player.
The club have been linked with targets as diverse as Wycombe
hot-shot Jermaine Easter, Tottenham star Mido and Heerenveen's
Brazilian front-man Afonso Alves, but Pearce is reluctant to
confirm which player, or players, could be arriving at
Eastlands.
"We are very hopeful of getting a striker and we are certainly a
lot closer than we were this time last week," said Pearce.
"We are looking for something permanent and at this moment in time,
we are looking for more than one.
"The closer we get to the window, the more we feel teams will
loosen up."
Alves could well be the mystery man in question as the former Malmo
man - who has bagged 18 goals in De Eredivisie this season - has
now admitted that City are closing following his progress.
Furthermore, the Brazilian is keen to test himself in the
Premiership if City can match Heerenveen's valuation.
"Yes they [Manchester City] are interested and I believe the
Premiership would suit me," Alves told Kvallsposten.