AUDITIONS to join Sven-Goran Eriksson's rapidly advancing Blue army will come thick and fast in the next week.

The Blues boss has returned from a trip to Asia ready to step up the search for fresh attacking blood in preparation for the January transfer window.

And his quest to pep up a forward line that has managed just 16 goals so far this season will take his scouts from Wembley to Moscow and from Euro 2008 to the Champions League.

First stop is London where Peter Crouch is likely to be asked to lead the line on his own for England - a custom-built role that big fan Eriksson would like the Macclesfield-born striker to replicate for the Blues.

Should Liverpool fail to reach the next stage of the Champions League then the City chief will be ready to tempt the Anfield side with an £8m offer and a promise of a regular start for Crouch.

When the European club action resumes next week Eriksson, his confidantes and coaches will be keeping a keen eye on Group G and a game between CSKA Moscow and PSV Eindhoven who both seem destined to miss out on the knockout stages yet who have strikers that interest City.

Restored

Peruvian Jefferson Farfan is the latest to figure on Eriksson's transfer radar though the Blues are less keen on the £8m-rated, 23-year-old than reports in Holland might indicate.

The PSV Eindhoven star, restored to full fitness after a recent ankle ligament injury, is one of the many hitmen Eriksson has been watching this season in a bid to help the Blues secure European football next season.

Depending on available funds, Eriksson could be in the market for two new attackers during the transfer window with current forwards Georgios Samaras and Rolando Bianchi possibly heading for the exit door at the same time.

At 23-years-old Farfan comfortably fits the identikit player Eriksson is looking for. It is club policy to buy only those on the upgrade or at their peak - not at the end of their careers no matter how distinguished.

Farfan, born in Lima, has in the past two seasons topped the 20-goal mark for the Dutch champions.

In three seasons with PSV, he has found the net at a ratio of better than one goal every two games and reports in Holland suggest City and other Premier League clubs have become regular visitors to the Philips Stadion with Farfan apparently eager to try out the Premier League.

There is another major reason for Eriksson to take an interest in PSV's trip to Russia for in the opposition ranks will be another player he has had watched closely, 23-year-old Brazilian Vagner Love.

Brazilians Afonso Alves at Heerenveen and Inter's currently out of favour Adriano, who is reportedly in a boot camp in Brazil in an attempt to get in top shape for a loan deal, are other players that Eriksson has been keeping close tabs on.

And he has not lost interest yet in former City star Nicolas Anelka who despite signing a new improved deal at Bolton is still being consistently linked with a move from the Reebok.

Which striker would you most like at Eastlands? Have your say.