Roberto Mancini has set his sights on Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao but must first persuade the clubs hierarchy to back his pursuit of the striker, Manchester Evening News reports.

The much coveted Columbian goal machine is a reported target for several of Europes elite clubs, however Manchester City boss Mancini is hoping he can fight off competition and bring him to the Etihad.

He must however first get the backing for a deal from City owner Khaldoon Al Mubarak who he hopes will bring out his cheque book and fund a deal for Falcao, with City already packed with forwards on large salaries.

Mancini's strikers have struggled for consistency so far this season and he insisted "our season depends on our strikers" adding, “if we start to score like last year, we will have a big chance.”

Carlos Tevez has arguably been the most consistent, scoring seven goals and providing 10 assists in the league while Edin Dzeko continues to score goals from the bench but struggles to make the same impact from the start, leaving Mancini preferring to use him as a 'super sub'.

Falcao, 26, has a buy out clause of £48million, but his average of almost a goal a game in hugely prolific spells at Porto and Atletico Madrid suggest that he would be worth the money.

With Robin van Persie scoring goals for fun across the pond at Old Trafford, Mancini will be even more desperate for his strikers to get back to their best or sign his target Falcao in January.

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