Striker linked with Man City switch

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is weighing up a move for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy according to reports.

Bellamy has emerged as Hughes' top target as the Man City boss looks to solve a striker crisis before the new campaign, they are set to kick off the new season without injured Benjani Mwaruwari and new £19million man Jo - who is going to be away at the Olympics with Brazil.

The Zimbabwean international ruptured a thigh muscle in training - ruling him out of action for the first month of the season and forcing Hughes to re-order his transfer priorities.

Bellamy, who recently recovered from a groin injury which ruined his first season at Upton Park, played some of his best football under Hughes at Blackburn three years ago before he clinched a big money move to Liverpool.

The City boss knows him well from his time in charge of Wales and has handled the pacy striker better than some other bigger-name managers.

West Ham may be persuaded to let him go if they can sign a replacement with Marseille's Djibril Cisse a possible target as Alan Curbishley looks for a striker to play alongside Dean Ashton.