Champions Join Liverpool and Italians in Race for Chilean Forward - Report

Premier League champions Manchester City have joined Liverpool in the race to sign out-of-favour Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez. The Mirror reports the Chilean international is wanted at the Etihad as part of the summer revamp by manager Roberto Mancini.

City were credited with interest in Sanchez back when he was with Italian club Udinese and his strong performances for the Serie A club means he still has admirers in that league; Serie A champions Juventus have also been linked with an approach.

Sanchez has had a poor season so far with the La Liga leaders. He has only one goal and three assists from 17 league games and four goals and four assists from 30 appearances in all competitions. And caught in an unfortunate cycle, in a side that boasts some of the best attacking players in the modern game, Sanchez has found first team football hard to come by with the Camp Nou team.

The fact, then, that Mancini is expected to go on transfer spree in the summer will boost Sanchez's hopes for next season. City have had a lacklustre season themselves and are 12 points behind leaders and arch-rivals Manchester United. The champions are expected to offload a number of their existing stars, including Argentine Carlos Tevez and Bosnian Edin Dzeko. And with the January sale of Italian Mario Balotelli, this leaves plenty of space up front for Sanchez, whose physical and direct style of play should suit the Premier League very nicely.

If he comes to City, Sanchez will have another diminutive Argentine as company up front - Sergio Agüero. In addition, City are also believed to be interested in Brazilian youngster Neymar and Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao, giving their forward line a distinctly South American feel.

And, to complete that touch, the champions have also shown interest in Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. Fortunately for Reds fans, the former Ajax star has professed his commitment. However, with ex-Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and his summer project - Bayern Munich - also linked, it could be a long and frustrating summer for the Anfield club.

Manchester City Youngster Jailed

Manchester City youth team player Courtney Meppen-Walter has been sentenced to 16 months in prison after killing two people in a road accident. The 18-year-old was driving at 56mph in a 30mph zone and crashed into a car coming from a side street. The defender captained the England U18 side twice and was on the fringe of a first team debut for Manchester City.