Robinho is today at the centre of a sensational multi-million pound swap deal involving Barcelona’s £40m-rated Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

City’s record signing has long identified the Nou Camp as his favoured destination and, after a highly successful World Cup with Brazil, could now get his wish with the Spanish giants interested in doing a deal.

And M.E.N. Sport understands City’s top brass are hoping to take advantage of the Spanish club’s current financial plight to pull off a bombshell swap that would solve two problems at once.

It has been widely reported in Spain that Robinho, who has been on loan at Santos, would be the makeweight in the proposed deal being thrashed out in Barcelona.

Swede Ibrahimovic was at the centre of a similar swap-plus-cash deal last year when he moved from Inter Milan to Barcelona for £35m with Samuel Eto’o going the other way.

Intriguingly, Ibrahimovic played under Blues boss Roberto Mancini when he was in charge at Inter and the Eastlands chief rates him so highly he would be willing to pay £15m-plus and lose Robinho.

City are looking to continue to splash the cash in a determined bid to land at least a Champions League place next season with Ibrahimovic now joining James Milner on the Eastlands wanted list.

But the Blues, who have already shelled out an amazing £60m this summer creating a new all-stars international team, will have to up their current offer to £30m in order to land the Villa and England midfielder.

Mancini has been determined the Blues do not pay over the top in transfer fees and has already snapped up a trio of superstars Yaya Toure from the Ivory Coast, Germany’s Jerome Boateng and David Silva who is in contention to start for Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final against Holland.

The question for the Blues hierarchy is whether to test Villa’s resolve with a final £30m bid.

But Villa, who bought Milner for £12m two years ago from Newcastle, are up for a fight to keep him by offering the player a lucrative new contract.

Meanwhile City, together with United, are understood to be in the race for Inter Milan hitman Mario Balotelli. But the Italy Under-21 international striker has three years left on his contract with Inter and could remain with the European champions.

Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola said: “The offers from the two Manchester clubs? Offers have arrived from all the top clubs in Europe but Mario has never asked to leave the club.”

Mancini, meanwhile, has vowed to clinch a place in the top four next season as well as winning some silverware.

“Excited? Yes I am,” he said. “Even before I see where we finish in the transfer market."