Manchester City reportedly is interested in Norwegian midfielder Ghayas Zahid for acquisition during the transfer window and could be loaned to New York City FC.

The Manchester Evening News reported Thursday that the English Premier League club almost signed the Valerenga player in January before the deal was postponed.

The 22-year-old Zahid could be loaned to NYC FC or Melbourne City, which are owned by ManCity.

“It seemed like I was going to join them, but they changed their minds two days before the transfer window closed,” he was quoted by the MEN. “They prefer to wait until the summer.

“Of course I was disappointed, but that’s it. Now I will focus on the season and work hard for us to do well.”

City have kept close contact with Valerenga while monitoring the 22-year-old’s progress this season, with scouts watching him in a friendly against Zenit just before delaying the transfer.

Valerenga coach Ronny Deila confirmed City’s interest. “I must say that Manchester City has several clubs, so it was not just City,” he said. “We have had close contact with them throughout. They look at Ghayas as a development project.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.