Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is in talks with Manchester City's Zimbabwe international striker Benjani, who has been told he can leave Eastlands.

Bruce said: "We have entered into discussions with his representatives about the player.

"With the injuries we have, we are worried we are a little bit light in that area and decided to make a move."

Benjani, 31, is a free agent in the summer but City boss Roberto Mancini says he can move on now if he wants to.

Mancini said: "He told me he had a possibility to go and play.

"We have a lot of strikers but it is up to him to decide. If he wants to stay I'll be happy. He's a good player and a good man."

Benjani joined City from Portsmouth in January 2008 but has spent long spells on the sidelines with injury and struggled to establish himself in the first team, starting just 21 games in two years.

606: DEBATE If he stays injury free and plays regulary he will score at least 12-15 goals a season and get some assists too united09/10champions.

With Roque Santa Cruz out injured and Emmanuel Adebayor playing at the Africa Cup of Nations, he was given another chance to shine this month, scoring one goal in five appearances.

But with Adebayor back in City colours after recovering from the trauma of the the horrific gun attack on the Togo team bus, Benjani is likely to slip down the pecking order at Eastlands once more.

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