Manchester City preparing bid for Lars Bender?

Manuel Pellegrini will reportedly launch a bid for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender if Manchester City fail to land first-choice transfer target Paul Pogba.

Pogba, 22, has been linked with a move away from Juventus, with Manchester City and Barcelona thought to be the favourites for his signature.

City will turn their attention to Bender, 26, if they miss out on Pogba to the La Liga giants, reports The Mirror.

Bender, who has 19 caps for Germany, joined Leverkusen in 2009 and has made over 150 appearances for the club.