Transfer news: Manchester City plan swoop for Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez - reports

Real Madrid goalkeeper emerges as a target for Manchester City

Diego Lopez, Joe Hart and Costel Pantilimon (Getty Images)

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is set to make an ambitious bid for Real Madrid's first-choice goalkeeper Diego Lopez in the summer, according to reports.

The 32-year-old was placed in the eye of a storm last year as former Madrid manager Jose Mourinho promoted him to the starting eleven ahead of Spanish No.1 Iker Casillas.

Carlo Ancelotti has since followed suit, starting the former Villarreal shot-stopper twenty times this season, and is unlikely to be willing to sell despite Lopez's age.

The Daily Mail report that City plan to offload Costel Pantilimon in the summer before relegating England's first-choice 'keeper Joe Hart to the bench in favour of the Madrid man.

Pellegrini's side are currently second in the Premier League table, a point behind leaders Arsenal, but have struggled to determine their preferred choice in goal.

Hart is currently in possession of the gloves going into the vital months before the World Cup in Brazil.

It is believed that Lopez, who has a contract in the Spanish capital which runs until June 2017, may also attract interest from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.