Skysports.com understands that officials from Manchester City have travelled to Germany in a bid to push through a deal for Bayern Munich defender Lucio.

The cash-rich Eastlands outfit are in the market for a new central defender as they look to establish themselves as a force in domestic and continental competition.

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A little out of nowhere this one, with recent focus on Terry, Lescott and Maicon in terms of talk for defensive reinforcements.

If a delegation has travelled then you would imagine discussions would be at an advanced stage. I'm not sure that Bayern would be overly keen to sell, yet given his age (31) a sizeable bid may be difficult to resist.

In terms of age, he doesn't quite fit Hughes's ideal template and maye his best days are behind, yet if Lescott or Terry are dead-ends then he may well be a useful short-term pick up.