Manchester City on Daniele de Rossi alert as Roma hint at selling vice-captain

In the mix It now looks near impossible that Manchester City will sign Daniele De Rossi from Roma, despite being linked with the central midfielder for most of the summer. The Italian called a press conference last week to say he would (GETTY IMAGES)

It seems that after failing with an approach for Roma's Daniele de Rossi last summer, Manchester City have been encouraged try their luck with a fresh bid for the talismanic midfielder.

Upon learning of City's interest in August, de Rossi said: "I'm staying…I never asked to leave. One club, the one you all know, made an enquiry. One or two others too, but that was just talk".

"What I can promise everyone is that the day I want to leave Roma - whether it is to win the Champions League or to make more money - I will say so in public".

However, in light of a recent interview with the club's general Manager Franco Baldini for Sky Italia, the decision to leave may be made for him: "Should an offer arrive for him, we will consider it," said Baldini.

It seems that the Roma hierarchy may finally be prepared to cash-in on de Rossi, with the midfielder now approaching his thirties. The early-season victory over Inter Milan at the San Siro now seems a distant memory, and with the club currently languishing in sixth place in Serie A, the idea of receiving over €30m for a player who has only started six of this season's eleven league games may be a tempting one.

The player himself is in danger of seeing his career go the same way as that of Francesco Totti: establishing himself as a world class player and fan-favourite, yet failing to really compete when it comes to the major honours.

While the Rome-born destroyer still sounds committed to the club, the fact that he has mentioned the possibility of leaving the club, coupled with Baldini's recent quotes, will be enough to fan the flames of Roberto Mancini's long-term interest in the player.