Paul Pogba: In training with France this week

Manchester City are preparing to turn their interest in Paul Pogba into a firm bid, according to Sky sources.

However, Pogba does not qualify as a home-grown player having failed to reach the required quota of appearances while at Manchester United.

Pogba spent two seasons at Old Trafford from July 2010 to 2012 where he struggled to make an impact, being given just a handful of substitute appearances for the first team before leaving for Italy.

City need home-grown talent to fill their Champions League quota - defined as anyone who has trained at an English club for three years between the age of 15 and 21.

Manuel Pellegrini's team had five in their squad last season, which was reduced to 21 players overall due to breaching Fair Play rules.

Defender Dedryk Boyata has left to join Celtic, midfielders James Milner for Liverpool and Frank Lampard for New York City leaving just goalkeeper Joe Hart and left-back Gael Clichy from last season's European selection.

Veteran back-up keeper Richard Wright also qualifies as home-grown while the club can only name 17 overseas players, leaving them currently with a Champions League squad of just 20 senior players.

Thierry Henry suggests that Juventus' Paul Pogba could become the best midfielder in the world Thierry Henry suggests that Juventus' Paul Pogba could become the best midfielder in the world

Sky Italia's Ghilda Pensante, who says Juventus will only consider "extraordinary" offers for the France international, told Sky Sports News HQ that the club would accept nothing less than 80m euro (£58m).

Pogba has already been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, with reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Chelsea and City, whose chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has talked about making "quality signings" during the transfer window.

The 22-year-old is currently back home preparing for international friendlies against Albania and Denmark.