Manchester City's owners are ready to back Roberto Mancini in the January market. The Daily Star says Mancini will be given the funds he thinks he needs to shore up City's leaky backline.

The men on his list are:

- Douglas Maicon, the brilliant Brazilian full-back who plays for Mancini's former club Inter Milan, the Italian champions, price £15m.

- Giorgio Chiellini, centre-half with Juventus, £10m.

- Matthew Upson, the West Ham and England central defender, £10m.

- Gary Cahill, the Bolton ace who has forced his way into Fabio Capello's England reckoning, £10m.

Though City are certainly not short of attacking talent, Mancini is also being linked with Antonio Cassano, a striker with Sampdoria, where Mancini played for 15 years.