Mancini lines up £8m bid for Leeds starlet Byram to be long-term Zabaleta successor

Manchester City are set to spend £8 million on poaching Leeds' teenage sensation Sam Byram.

Energetic right-back Byram has been one of the first names on Neil Warnock's team-sheet this season despite only making his debut in August.

Mancini is revamping his squad in the summer after finding his side off the pace in the Premier League and crashing out of the Champions League at the group stage.

Tough tackler: Sam Byram, in action for Leeds yesterday, is a target for Premier League champions City

Looking to the future: Mancini, pictured yesterday, sees Byram as the long-term successor to Pablo Zabaleta

The Italian boss was impressed with Byram’s display in City’s 4-1 FA Cup victory over Leeds last month, and has been keeping tabs on the teenager since.

Byram is being lined-up as the long-term successor to Pablo Zabaleta, while Mancini sees former England defender Micah Richards’ future as being in the centre of defence.

Essex-born Byram has signed two new deals at Elland Road this season alone, despite interest from City and other Premier League clubs.

Young gun: Right-back Byram, 19 (right), has been ever-present for Neil Warnock's (left) Leeds side this season

West Bromwich Albion, Stoke and Wigan are also interested in the 19-year-old, but should Leeds sell their prize asset the Premier League champions would be favourites for his signature.