Manchester City see buying a MLS franchise as a way to bring through local American talent with the view to gracing the Premier League.

The Daily Mail says it emerged on Tuesday that City's owner Sheikh Mansour is close to sealing a $100m deal to establish a new soccer franchise in the Queens area of New York with the new team joining the fast-growing American league in time for the 2016 season.

As well as the obvious commercial benefits from a tie-up with a high-profile MLS club and a presence in the States, City intend to use the New York set-up as a vehicle for giving their own up and coming players competitive game time as well as finding and recruiting the best American talent.

By sending promising stars out to America to play in the televised and much-publicised league until recently graced by former England captain David Beckham, City would in theory prepare them better for life at the top back home.