£4m Euell can turn City tide for Royle

Joe Royle has stepped up his search for a striker by adding Wimbledon's Jason Euell to the list of candidates lined up to solve his most pressing need.

The Manchester City manager knows his next transfer move could determine his side's Premiership fate after watching City waste a glut of chances in their 0-0 draw with Derby County on Boxing Day. After identifying an influx of pace and power up front as the priority for safeguarding City's top-flight status, he enquired about the availability of Robbie Keane, Darren Huckerby and Chris Armstrong.

With Leeds winning the £13million race to secure Keane's release from Inter Milan, Huckerby earmarked for a move to Celtic and Armstrong unavailable at Spurs, Royle looked like drawing a blank in his quest to find a frontrunner with the required credentials.

But he has been alerted to Euell's availability and is expected to step up his interest after having the 23-year old watched in Wimbledon's 4-0 win at Tranmere on Saturday.

Euell did not disappoint the City contingent as he scored twice and showed all the awareness and speed off the mark that prompted an approach from Newcastle earlier this season.

Wimbledon's £7million asking price proved prohibitive at the time, but it is believed Terry Burton's side have since lowered their sights and are prepared to consider bids of around £4m.