Sportsvibe – via talkSPORT– suggest the Argentina striker has been identified as a player who could bolster the Blues’ attack and provide added competition to compatriot Sergio Aguero.
The report reads: “Icardi could be on the verge of moving to the Premier League next summer after it was revealed Manchester City are preparing to launch a stunning £30million offer for the Inter Milan star.
“With Sergio Aguero struggling to maintain his fitness this season, manager Manuel Pellegrini could look to strengthen his forward line at the end of the season in case the Argentina international is side-lined.
“Wilfried Bony is currently the only other option to lead the line, and a third forward is required should City want to be favourites for the title.
“According to talkSPORT, Gazzetta dello believe City will launch the mammoth offer at the end of the season, but they may have to compete with rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, who also hold an interest.
“The article claims that should Inter fail to secure Champions League football then they may be powerless to keep the 22-year-old, who finished as the top scorer in Serie A last season.”
In other news, Bacary Sagna admitted he needed to recharge his batteries in midweek.
The France international has played almost non-stop this campaign but started on the bench against Monchengladbach, meaning Gael Clichy started at right-back instead.
Quoted in the M.E.N, Sagna admitted: ‘I needed a rest because I’ve kept playing in all the games. I had to think about the team, I wasn’t in the right shape to start this one but hopefully the next one I will be.
‘We are still in four competitions and we have players coming back from injury. As a team, it’s great for us to go through in first place in the Champions League. It was one of our targets and we’ve reached it.
‘We have many games and it’s going to be a long season. We aim to be successful and to do that you have to go game by game. The next one is in the league and we want to bounce back from what happened at Stoke.
‘We know we have a quality team. You need a lot of energy and sometimes you can be tired, maybe we were on Saturday but I think it’s good that we responded in this way.’
Finally, Four Four Two focus on Saturday’s opponents Swansea City and the task the managerless South Wales club face this weekend.
They write: “Garry Monk’s departure leaves Swansea City facing an uphill struggle at Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend.
Swansea City “reluctantly” parted company with manager Garry Monk on Wednesday but must regroup ahead of a daunting trip to face Manchester City in the Premier League.
“Monk had become part of the furniture in south Wales, joining as a player in 2004 before succeeding Roberto Martinez as captain and eventually following in the Spaniard’s footsteps by managing the club.
“However, a run of one victory in 11 league matches prompted the Swansea board to take action, bringing the curtain down on the former defender’s 11-year involvement with the club.
“With assistant manager Pep Clotet and coaches James Beattie and Kristian O’Leary - himself a long-serving player with the club - having also departed the Liberty Stadium, it remains unclear who will be at the helm for Saturday’s fixture.
“First-team coach Alan Curtis looks most likely to take caretaker charge - a role he last played in 2004 following the departure of Brian Flynn, with Swansea then playing in the fourth tier of English football.
“Curtis’ first game in charge on that occasion ended in a 4-2 victory over Scunthorpe United, but an away day at City in the top flight promises to provide a much sterner test of his leadership skills.”
More City gossip and rumours tomorrow…
Swansea City visit the Etihad for a 3pm kick off on Saturday 12 December. There’s still time to secure your seat and tickets are priced from just £5 for U16s and £30 for Adults. Buy now.
