Man City launch £8M bid for Real Madrid's Baptista

Manchester City have approached Real Madrid for attacking midfielder Julio Baptista.

DiarioSport says City have indicated they're prepared to offer £8 million in January to land the Brazil international, who is also interesting Juande Ramos' Tottenham.

City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is spearheading negotiations as he believes Baptista's attacking strengths can compliment the likes of Elano and Martin Petrov in his midfield structure.