Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo has emerged as a summer transfer target for Manchester City.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini is an admirer of the Paraguayan and is considering a bid for the 30 year-old, according to report from O Jogo.

Cardozo’s season has been plagued by injury and on Wednesday, his agent Pedro Aldave fuelled speculaion of a move away from the Estadio da Luz.

“I believe that June will be a good time to transfer if possible. Aldave told Radio Cardinal. “There is interest in England, Turkey, Qatar, and Italy”.

Cardozo confirmed his desrire to depart Lisbon last August amid interest from across Europe. He told A Bola: “I thank the fans for always being with me.

“But, after everything that has happened, it will be very hard to find motivation to continue. My head is far away from Benfica.”

City were reportedly plotting a swoop to acquire his services in January but interest failed to transpire into a concrete bid.

Chelsea, Spartak Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg and Fenerbache have all previously expressed an interest in the talismanic striker who is believed to be worth £15m.

Spartak were rumoured to have made a £15m bid, a claim the Russian club denied vehemently while Cardozo was thought to have been edging towards a move to Fenerbahce last summer, but the deal fell through.