Mancini eyes Spanish midfielder

Manchester City are keeping a close watch over Sampdoria's 20-year-old Spanish midfielder Pedro Obiang, who is valued at £3.2million.

City scouts have seen the 6ft 1inch-tall star in both of Sampdoria's first two Serie A matches this season and could only have been impressed by his display when his club beat AC Milan 1-0 at the San Siro.
Obiang, who was born in Madrid but has African roots, is a holding midfielder who played a big part in helping Sampdoria achieve promotion from Serie B last season.
He made his Samp debut two years ago, signing a new five-year contract on the morning of the match which ties him to the Genovese club until 2015.
But both City bos Roberto Mancini and his faithful assistant Attilio Lombardo have taken advantage of their relationship with Sampdoria to investigate Obiang's character and his availability.