The Sky Blues want 32-year-old Ameobi, who played more than 300 matches for Newcastle United in England, to be their marquee star after the departure of Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero.

Ameobi is a free agent since being released by the Magpies last month after 14 years' service to the club.

A Sydney spokesman confirmed the club is talking to Ameobi's people.

Incoming manager Graham Arnold sees Ameobi as the perfect partner for New Zealand international striker Shane Smeltz, who joined the club last month from Perth Glory.

Ameobi, who played for an hour for Nigeria in last week's drawn international with Scotland, is in his country's 30-member squad for the FIFA World Cup and will know on Tuesday if he is in the final group.

The Nigerians play Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group F.

Sydney has struggled to make a mark on the A-League since it won the premiership-championshop double in 2010 and sees Ameobi as the man who could provide the team with the spark in attack to mount a serious challenge for the title.

The club is understood to be dealing with other strikers.





